Living the Change: Inspiring Stories for a Sustainable Future (2018) User Reviews

A relatable and enlightening doco

[eddie_baggins · 7/10 · 29 July 2018]

Whether you choose to believe it or not, we've all heard and seen things relating to the topic of climate change and human beings over-consumption of our natural resources and the way in which humanity is seemingly abusing the one Earth we've been given, in what has become a hot topic subject for much of the world since the turn of the 21st century.

It's been a popular subject for many documentaries from Al Gore's famous An Inconvenient Truth through to smaller films such as Before the Flood, now joining that ranks is small independent documentary Living the Change: Inspiring Stories for a Sustainable Future which brings things down a level to encourage and promote a lifestyle we can all live to ensure that we are doing our parts to maintain our planets balance and plan for a future where we don't rely on the hazardous day to day activities we've become accustomed to.

Directed by duo and real life partners Jordan Osmond and Antoinette Wilson who filmed Living the Change on a trip they took in the beautiful and naturally rich New Zealand, the film is an easily accessible look into the lives of everyday citizens that have chosen to do something about their day to day lives and help (in ways both big and small) to stop waste, reliance on supermarket chains and to do their bit for our fragile planet.

It's refreshing to see stories and real-life people doing their part in a situation that affects each and every one of us and while large scale documentaries may try and unearth huge revelations or shock factors, Living the Change brings issues home in a relatable and easy to digest fashion that will be both an encouragement for viewers and a simple eye-opener for many who will begin to realise that often change starts small and grows into something much bigger.

The other huge ace up Living the Change's sleeve is in its capturing of the stunning New Zealand surrounds. Having myself been lucky enough to visit this breathtakingly beautiful slice of paradise, Osmond and Wilson do a great job at showcasing the landscape and the colourful people New Zealand is famous for harbouring and it's clear that everyone involved here appreciates there natural surrounds and in turn the world they have been blessed to inhabit.

Final Say -

In bringing some sombre and important messages back down to ground level, Living the Change offers and enjoyable and informative look at what can be done to do our part of preserving our planet as it stands as well as offering a visually rich tour of New Zealand as a bonus.

3 ½ compost thermostats out of 5

OK doco

[Molongirl · 7/10 · 15 May 2019]

Depressing beginning as it emphasises the very terminal nature of the way the world is currently using resources. But the emphasis on individuals taking local action which makes up the bulk of the film is very good. My one quibble is that most of the people focused on have way more land than the average Joe Bloggs. It would have been good to see one average household block being used in a permacultural way.

Ok

[gabe1231 · 7/10 · 29 November 2020]

This documentary focuses on ways preserve our environment and improve our current situation. The solutions that are presented are to build a sustainable lifestyle that reduces the amount of oil and energy consumption that is polluting the earth. Many of the people who are "living the change" in the documentary are planting their own crops or building things that can be sustainable for the future. The other solutions for people who do not have the resources to plant their own crops is to shop local more often and to eat less meat. I feel like these tips are useful but will not solve the climate crisis we currently face because everything is done locally and not on a global scale. I also found the examples of people who are "living the change" to be an unrealistic way of many people being able to contribute to improving the situation of climate change we as a society are currently facing. Most people are not able to get up and leave their current situation to build a sustainable system for themselves and other people.

Strikingly crafted film which resonates hope in our age of apathy and despair

[countess_jane · 10/10 · 12 March 2018]

This is a wonderful true story, but brutally and dramatically highlights the scary journey that we are all travelling together, to an unknown destination. It may be a dark horizon, but there remains a glimmer of light and hope.

The film raises key questions about our global future and suggests real-life possible solutions, most notably on an individual, local and community scale. These may not provide clear cut answers to all the issues we face, but they do address them with passion, achieved by a small number of dedicated folk, providing tangible evidence to the viewer. The results are impressive and appealing. We witness stories which are inspiring, where ordinary people have made simple or, perhaps, extraordinary changes to their lifestyles, consequently enjoying better lives than they were before. They set the example for a brighter, more prosperous future for everyone and they're not millionaires nor own huge tracts of real estate.

We need to be willing to listen, to review our own existence and to identify what is really important to us; how content and fulfilled are we really? If we wish to adapt and ultimately flourish during these changing times then let's face the basic truth of the situation. This film clearly and effectively demonstrates the obvious fact, that is so commonly ignored, that we definitely MUST start to consume differently, the relatively painless steps that can be taken and choices we can all make, presented in such a beautiful, engaging and heart-rending way. This is the clarity that we need in this time of impending crisis.

I just hope that this film and its message will be rewarded with a global reception and recognition, as it's a message for us all. Thank you to the film makers and participants for reassuring me that human life can be worth living, for the good of us all. A refreshing philosophy for our World of today and tomorrow.

Indulgent hippies of boring.

[tetrahex · 26 January 2020]

A few stories of people who have the luxury of living outside normal circumstances, able to indulge in the virtue signalling while still being supported by the trappings of modern civilization, there is nothing sustainable about it, it doesn't scale, its a life style affectation. Watching people recycle is just boring, but it gets upvotes based on kudos, not on anything substantive, and that kind of is the problem all around this issue.

Well made doccie with several good ideas

[louwrenswiese · 9/10 · 13 November 2023]

It's astonishing that people are still willing to argue that climate change, or at least our gross misuse of this poor planet, isn't happening. The people in this movie may be hippies but they are a good example to all of us. It's true that you cannot easily have a permaculture farm in the middle of a big city while you're working in an office (although some have done it), but you can make life choices to benefit the earth. I was very pleased to see a GP living in a shack similar to the one that I myself live in. By choice. And to see people sorting their garbage by vegie scraps, plastics and fixable devices, same as I do here. And to see kids being taught to grow and prepare vegetables. I know that young children love doing this. I helped raise my granddaughter like these kids and she will fit right in. She hardly touches a phone. Please watch this movie. PS. It was shot in New Zealand, where these things are easier than in some other places. But they can still be done.

Leftist garbage

[blazer-04344 · 1/10 · 30 January 2020]

Nothing but a waste of time put forward by the radial leftists.

Climate Change agenda propaganda - not a documentary

[bbv-69237 · 1/10 · 31 January 2020]

While there is truth to the argument that speeding cameras has reduced traffic accidents and has therefore saved lives, the reality is that speeding cameras do not directly save lives. But the Govt will take fears about being killed in a car and play it out for as much taxes as they can get. And any complaint about a new speed camera being unnecessary and/or that it is only to make more money, is met with hate and ridicule and statements like "you want people to die?".

Climate Change Global Warming is the same - a little bit of truth blown out of all proportion, and supported by dubious studies from scientists on grants, that is used by Govts to impose taxes. This film is done by leftwing climate change proponents supported by vested interests showing virtue signalling people - who are really just hippies.

This 'film' is Climate Change propaganda which I will now summarise down for you - fear mongering (the world is going to end) and virtue signalling (I am going to Heaven and you will rot in Hell).

Radicals, political and agenda driven

[rsvp321 · 29 January 2020]

We're inundated with all these leftist radical political agenda doomsday "documentaries", in the past several years.

As with the others, this one is only *one sided opinions*, with some obvious false information offered as "facts".

I gave this one only ~thirty minutes before I gave up on any hope of legitimacy.

Nonsense!

How can you talk about environmental change and promote eating meat?

[shannon01568 · 3/10 · 10 April 2020]

I was really excited to watch this film, but was shocked when Shane started talking about meat consumption and animals. Of course it is obvious that you can't have a healthy ecosystem without animals, however, how can you promote eating them under this logic? You lost my support after this section. Very disappointing.