Yann Arthus-Bertrand Interview

The latest documentary film from legendary nature photographer, documentary director and environmental activist, Yann Arthus-Bertrand looks for an answer to what can each one of us do to save the planet.

After travelling the world and campaigning for the wellbeing of the planet, Arthus-Bertrand is in Geneva for World Environment Day, marked on 5 June, to present “Nature: The Call for Reconciliation,” his latest production at cine-ONU.

The film brushes a powerful portrait of humanity’s broken relationship with planet Earth and all living things, against the existential backdrop of climate change. With no filter, he shares alarming observations and prospects of hope.

“Nature: The Call for Reconciliation” highlights the paradoxes of our society and their disastrous consequences, but it also carries a powerful message: individual action is possible, and “love” is the key.

“My movies are about the paradox of our lives: we want to save the planet and in fact our life is destroying the planet every day. And we are, I am also part of it. The movie is about that: “where is my own responsibility?”, he said.

"For me love is the key to everything. Love of life, the key to life. Our life is a story of love with humanity and the world. And we have forgotten that. We are part of this story. And we are destroying this beautiful story about the love and the planet,” continued Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

At 79 years old, the globe-trotter used only archive material, about 600,000 photographs and a dozen films, to edit “Nature.”

Some images were sent to the photographer by drone owners from around the world, in response to a call for participation in the documentary. Arthus-Bertrand speaks directly to the audience as a last resort for two hours, starting 4.6 billion years ago from the origins of planet Earth, using images of stellar nurseries from the James Webb Space Telescope.

“Everything had started well, until everything changed a century ago”, the film maker tells the audience, referring to the development of human activities and consumer society that are destroying our environment.

“We live in denial and my movies are about that,” he explained to UN News. “My movies are about ‘what can I do myself’. I want to speak to each person. I don't want to speak to politicians or important persons, I want to speak to you, yourself,” he insisted.

Also founder and president of the Foundation GoodPlanet, Arthus-Bertrand wanted to save the rhinos, and the birds in his twenties. “Now, I want to save my grandchildren,” he confided.

Asked about the message he’d like to share with the younger generations who are fully aware of the consequences of climate change and growing up with a form of anxiety, he replied: “my message to the young people is ‘I trust you’. I'm sensitive. I trust you from my heart and I love you.”

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Yann Arthus-Bertrand Interview

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