“Welcome to the world’s greatest “how to” video,” declares Benedict Cumberbatch at the start of documentary, How to Live On Earth.
Rather than urgent and despairing, the new feature documentary presented by Cumberbatch and directed by Fredi Devas takes a constructive tone.
The film poses a number of ideas around working with nature, rather than against it, offering potential solutions to help address some of the biggest challenges facing the world.
We meet a number of engaging characters, each with their own connection to the natural world often, first-hand experience of its destruction. Rather than dwelling on doom and gloom though, their real stories underline the possibilities that exist while the film’s polished, cinematic presentation of ideas (including music composed by Hans Zimmer) makes it an easy watch.
The new film has premiered around the world, including at The Civic in Auckland. That premiere was assisted by the film’s Kiwi connection, with NZ ‘eco-preneur’ Suzan Craig serving as an executive producer on the film. Having spent 20 years working on nature restoration and biodiversity project Tahi, a property in Northland, Craig has seen some of the possibilities explored by this film in action on her land.
Director Devas is a British wildlife filmmaker who has previously worked on Planet Earth II and Antarctica IMAX.
How to Live On Earth has just launched in its entirety for free on YouTube. Watch now