Don’t Look Up: A comedic take on the climate crisis - Lessons for Films
‘Don’t Look Up’ which aired on popular streaming service Netflix in 2021 is a satirical film about two scientists (played by Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio) who attempt in vain to warn the world about an incoming comet that could destroy the earth. The two scientists meet with the president (Meryl Streep), who is relieved that the impact of the comet is only 99.7% certain and decides that the upcoming election is more important than the fate of the planet by choosing to “sit tight and assess”. At this point, the desperate astronomers go on a national morning programme in attempt to warn the public of the imminent collision with the comet but is overshadowed by a celebrity breakup story. By the end of the film, we see the president making a last minute decision to save the planet by initiating a diversion mission and subsequently changing her mind after heeding advice from a billionaire donor who has the technology to guide the comet to a safe landing, in hopes of extracting its precious metals but the plan falls through.
The film mirrors the realities of how humanity is responding to the climate crisis. The concerns presented by the climate scientists who have deep knowledge of the climate emergency of today is met with disrespect and disregard which is both hilarious and frightening because it strikes an uncanny resemblance to the realities of the modern world with politicians and former figure heads like Donald Trump claiming that climate change is a hoax.
Learning from Don’t Look Up
The comedic take on a climate change which is a conventionally serious matter draws attention to the issue. Nicole Seymour, an associate professor of English at California State University noted that “Irony in fiction is helpful in navigating the absurdity of the real world and our frustration” which can be particularly advantageous for climate films as it shifts away from the traditional fear-inducing climate thrillers like The Day After Tomorrow. The juxtaposition between the urgent and pressing matter and the satirical genre of the film sparks curiosity and outrage among the audience. This should be the case. We are meant to feel a sense of panic when the scientists discover the comet, hopeful when they inform the president and desperate when they are not taken seriously by people in power. However, the film ends on a pessimistic note as the comet makes impact on earth, killing everyone. Instead, films about the climate crisis could end on a more positive and hopeful note. An article by the BBC on Climate films pointed out the need for films with climate agendas to incorporate the message of constructive hope instead of the usual post-apocalyptic and dystopian narratives presented in climate films which often imparts fear and hopelessness, robbing audiences of their agency to make change.
Three ways Hollywood can tackle the climate crisis:
- Think outside the box – Use comedy to send a climate message
- Take an unconventional approach – instill hope, not fear and paranoia
- Be grounded in the everyday issues – include the impacts of climate change in the day-to-day lives of the characters
Films have the potential to shape the way people think, behave, and act. It is considered ubiquitous to modern living. The climate crisis is a complex and daunting subject, and stories have the ability to make climate issues more comprehensible, engaging and interesting, evoking emotions and influencing behaviours of the audience. If executed with sensitivity and care, films can play an important role in the climate discourse and as a start, Hollywood can take notes from Don’t Look Up and learn to incorporate different ways to include the climate emergency in its creative narrative.