Chasing Ice

Filmmaker Jeff Orlowski's Sundance Grand Jury Prize-nominated Chasing Ice profiles nature photographer James Balog and his Extreme Ice Survey project—a mission launched in 2005 to visually document climate change by painstakingly stationing dozens of specially-made high-end Nikon digital-still cameras (capable of time-lapse photography under harsh conditions) to capture the retreat of ancient and presumably slow-moving glaciers. After many technical difficulties (compounded by Balog's knee problems, which threaten to cripple him), the footage is sequenced and what it reveals is horrifying: the planet's centuries-old ice formations are melting away in accelerated fashion over a period of mere months. The documentary loudly wears its global-warming sentiments on its sleeve, setting up a Balog-vs.-Goliath drama in which various greenhouse gas-bags at Fox News and within the Republican Party sow insidious doubt about the science behind climate change—at least until these images hit the mediasphere. Despite the depressing findings, the ice-field footage here is breathtaking (earning a Sundance win for cinematography). Extras include a “making-of” featurette, film festival Q&As, and a science update. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are an audio commentary by the director, additional behind-the-scenes featurettes, a music video for the Oscar-nominated song “Before My Time” (featuring Scarlett Johansson and Joshua Bell), and a photo-filled booklet. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)