An Inconvenient Truth

ARGUABLY THE MOST famous documentary of the early 21st century about the issues of global warming and climate change, An Inconvenient Truth was directed by Davis Guggenheim, with former U.S. Vice President Albert A. Gore, Jr., as narrator and creator. Gore steals the show, and very few people remember the filmmaker's name. An Inconvenient Truth is in essence a filmed public lecture, one and a half hours long, delivered by a former politician, not a scientist, about the importance and dangers of global warming.

The main character, Al Gore, is progressively introduced in the first scenes of the film, just before the film's title appears on the screen. The opening images show only nature: a calm river. Then, Gore's voice is coupled with various images of individuals from the audience who listen carefully to his message. At this point, Gore is viewed only from behind. Reaction shots are taken from individuals in the audience: most people listen, applaud; in another shot, others have the chance to get nearer or to talk to him directly. A man who seems impressed takes a photograph of nearby Gore, another candidly films him with his mobile telephone, showing that this is an important person, and this rare meeting is to become a memorable moment for all those who had the chance to encounter him. In the background, soft, instrumental music plays in a New Age style.

Then, perhaps on another day, in another city, Gore is about to enter on stage; first his shadow, from feet to head, then his whole person is shown. Until that moment, his face is not visible; then the magnified Gore introduces himself in a general shot, declaring jokingly, but without a smile, to the audience in a serious tone: “I used to be the next president of the United States of America.” This opening sequence lasts about four minutes, until the film's title appears; it constructs Gore's image and credibility for the forthcoming demonstration.

The first hour shows Gore explaining how the climate went out of control in just a few years. Graphs, photographs, data, short films, and anecdotes are shown. From the beginning, the film mentions a national disaster from 2005, Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, as a patent case of a tragedy that was not considered very important by the U.S. Government. At some point in the argument, these terrible events in New Orleans are presented as the direct consequence of the global warming. It also explains that the administration in Washington, D.C., does not seem to be fully aware of the danger of global warming to U.S citizens.

Among many facts, mixed with some personal memories, Gore mentions his admiration for his former professor at Harvard, Roger Revelle (1909–91), [Page 58]who in 1957–58 was already doing research and teaching about climate change, with the help of his partner Charles David Keeling. Both men are seen as the pioneers in the research and measures related to global warming. Gore recalls he was in Revelle's class in the mid-1960s; later, in the mid-1970s, when sitting in Congress, Gore wanted to bring his former professor Roger Revelle in as an expert to explain his position, during a congressional hearing about the climate.

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