Louis Palmer is a former teacher from Switzerland who has always felt passionately about the need for sustainable energy sources, particularly the fuel that powers our automobiles. Palmer harbored a dream of building a solar-powered car that he would drive around the world on a political and educational quest to educate people about global warming and the need to reduce pollution. Filmmaker Erik Schmitt's PBS-aired documentary details Palmer's amazing 18-month world tour in his Solartaxi, a small electrical car powered by solar panels hitched to the rear of his vehicle. Palmer is able to get a Swiss university to build the car, and he brings along a mechanic in case of breakdown. From Switzerland, Palmer travels east through Europe, visiting schools to spread his eco message. While in Vienna, Palmer receives an invitation to speak at a U.N. sponsored climate conference in Bali, Indonesia, adding a time element to his journey. Traveling through Syria is a challenge (compounded when Palmer gets into a fender bender collision with another auto), although India proves to be the biggest obstacle, with countless traffic jams, threats of rebel activity in the countryside, and another car accident. Palmer makes the Bali conference just in time, although he fails to get an audience with U.N .Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Australia becomes the biggest disappointment, thanks to indifference from the media and leaders of this largely coal- powered country. Despite security concerns, China gives Palmer a warm reception, while in the U.S. he meets celebrities such as Jay Leno and film director James Cameron, before finally hooking up with the U.N. Secretary General in New York City. With breaks for some necessary water travel to various countries, Palmer meets his goal in the allotted 18 months. Serving up an entertaining, enlightening, somewhat Capra-esque tale of a man who wants to change the mindset of people, this is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)
Solartaxi: Around the World with the Sun
(2011) 52 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.95 w/PPR). PBS Video (tel: 800-344-3337, web: <a href="http://www.pbs.org/">www.pbs.org</a>). Closed captioned. ISBN: 978-1-60883-558-4. August 27, 2012
Solartaxi: Around the World with the Sun
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: