Directed by Matthieu Rytz
Canada/Quebec | 2018 | Documentary | 77 min
Film Source: Eyesteel Films
Awards / premier festivals: Sundance
Sponsor: Seventh Generation
*Producer/Editor Mila Aung-Thwin will be in attendance*
The Pacific Islands nation of Kiribati (population 100,000) is one of the most remote places on the planet, seemingly far-removed from the pressures of modern life. Yet it is one of the first countries that must confront the main existential dilemma of our time: imminent annihilation from rising sea levels. While Kiribati President Anote Tong races to find a way to protect his nation’s people and maintain their dignity, many citizens are already seeking safe harbor overseas. Set against the backdrop of international climate and human rights negotiations, Anote’s struggle to save his nation is intertwined with the extraordinary fate of Sermary, a young mother of six, who fights to migrate her family to New Zealand. At stake is the survival of Sermary’s family, the Kiribati people, and 4,000 years of Kiribati culture.