2040 addresses other subjects, including soil-saving farming practices, oceanic permaculture, efficient use of community resources, and female empowerment. Gameau spotlights individual innovation as the answer to solving environmental issues in hopes of one day creating an environment-friendly utopia.
2040 playfully paints an optimistic future. Most environmental documentaries (see An Inconvenient Truth) are bleak visions of our future. They explain why we are bad people borrowing our children’s future. We’re doomed. What 2040 offers is solutions—more than just pipe dreams, but real, practical solutions. Though many of the answers are still in developmental stages, they show promise.
“…more than just pipe dreams, but real, practical solutions.”
Also, Gameau’s film is appropriate for family viewing. It’s not directly a children’s film. Still, it will appeal to the younger set with animated stop-motion explanations of problems and solutions and the previously mentioned friendly, bright tone—not nightmare-inducing at all. He also produces some cute skits with his “older” daughter. One of which includes provocative yoga positions.
In all honesty, I had issues with some of the points made in the film. Though I’m not in full agreement with every argument, there’s enough that I think we can all get behind. As with any debate, Gameau makes his point well. His discoveries made rethink and modify some of my positions, but there are still more important questions. For example, how would a car-loving and collecting city of Los Angeles deal without their cars? I’m stopping here before I open a can of worms.
What I appreciate is 2040’s lack of a political agenda. Instead, you can sense Gameau’s earnest desire to improve the world’s current environmental situation. On the other hand, it can be overly positive and a little schmaltzy, as if you’re on a tour of EPCOT. That said, 2040 is a fantastic and informative documentary.
"…friendly, bright tone—not nightmare-inducing at all."
