Environment 1990

Short Film (Full Length) – 1972 Nature Documentary

Start video player

Made for the UN's first 'Earth Summit' in Stockholm in 1971, the film explores what the future holds for NZ’s environment. Director Hugh Macdonald (This is New Zealand) presents an impressionistic ecosystem: mixing shots of native natural wonder, urbanisation, and pollution with abstract montages and predictions from futurologists — such as Cousteau’s “underwater man”. Before climate change heated up 21st Century Doomsday debates, this film (made for the Ministry of Works!) places stock in individual responsibility. The score aptly enlists the French nursery rhyme ‘Are You Sleeping?’.

Key Cast & Crew

Hugh Macdonald

Director, Editor

David H Fowler

Producer

John Gordon

Narrator

See all 13 credits

In the cities of course, the weather will be fully controlled before another century has passed.
– Arthur C Clarke

Produced by

The National Film Unit

Source

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision - TVNZ Collection

Availability

For requests to re-use this title, contact Archives New Zealand.