Does ‘Don’t Look Up’ Fail to Deliver Climate Optimism?

Before you read on, don’t be confused into thinking you shouldn’t see this movie. I personally think it’s absolutely brilliant and so needed in our entertainment world! However, the one thing I lacked when watching the film was a sense of hope and clear action steps on what we can do next, so as to not lose ourselves to hopelessness and despair. That is why I am thrilled to learn that Netflix has partnered with Count Us In to create this Don’t Look Up Action Network.

I didn’t expect the movie to start a mini-war between my husband and me but we had barely left the theaters before the argument started. As we walked out of the salon, the after texts of Don’t Look Up still playing behind us, he asked the question that triggered it all:

“So… what did you think of it?”

Little did I know that we were in completely different Universes. That while I was consuming every second of the film, he had — at multiple times — seriously thought about walking out. As he put it, it was “honestly quite painful to watch”.

Now, I’m not a movie critic so this is not an article about whether or not you should see the new star-crew movie (featuring celebs like Leo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Street, Jonah Hill, Ariana Grande, among others.) What I am about to share with you are the deep insights that came from discussing the movie afterward.

What made us have such different experiences in that theater? What made us think so differently about the film?

I think it has little to do about the movie itself, and a lot to do about his and mine separate (climate) journeys, and how those made us receive it! And if you were to ask me, I believe these insights serve as critical feedback for how we should and shouldn’t talk about climate change if we want to spark the right action!

I will let this line here serves as a warning that you may not want to read further if you haven’t already seen the film. I’m not going to unveil any specifics about the movie, but I will discuss the nature and overall message, so it’s up to you to keep reading or not!

What audience are you trying to trigger?

The reason our conversation about the movie got so deep and why it didn’t stop just walking home — it followed us through dinner and long into the night — was because we were both triggered, just in very different ways. Having suffered from climate anxiety for over fifteen years, I walked out of that theatre feeling seen, touched and deeply emotionally triggered.

The entire movie was like a story of how I’ve lived most of my life and I could relate so much with Jennifer Lawrence's character, having carried this growing frustration that no one seems to understand what is actually going on. I lived with climate despair for years and it’s taken me a lot of active healing work to move out of that dark place. Watching this movie stirred it right up! I felt seen, understood, and validated in my anger. Finally, I thought, a real movie about climate change!

My husband, on the other hand, had the opposite reaction. First of all, he didn’t know walking in that it was a climate movie, so it wasn’t until later in the film that he was able to connect those dots. By then, he was a bit confused by the whole storyline. Secondly, he didn’t understand what the purpose of the movie was. Was it political and if so, what were they expecting people to do after watching it — vote differently in the next election? Or was it about capitalism and the fact that we’re ruining the Earth with our greed? And if so, what’s the call to action there? Was he to be blamed or the system in general? Who are the fingers pointed at here?

As he was pumping me with more and more questions, I quickly built up my old defense wall around me while firing my usual “climate ammunition” back at him.

“Wow, you don’t get it, do you? This is exactly what the movie was about, that we just don’t get it!”

“I get it, but what are they asking us to do? What is the goal with the movie?”

“I don’t know, bring awareness about climate change! Making us understand how urgent and important this is!”

“Ok, but again, what do they want us to do, now that we know? Because if anything, after watching that movie I just feel like society is a joke and that we might as well give up.”

It took me a walk to calm down my triggered climate anxiety (I actually walked to Battery Park and hugged a tree, which I highly recommend whenever you need it) before I could return home and continue the conversation. And I’m glad that I did because at the end of the night, I had a very different view of the story, and I am so grateful to my husband for challenging my thinking and pointing it out.

What the movie had done was speak right to my fearful climate activist heart and hand me all the reasons why I do what I do. In that way, I’m so happy I saw it because I’ve gained a new sense of commitment to my work. However, I’m in the choir here. No, I’m that obnoxious singer in the choir who insists on singing louder than anyone else, and this movie was preaching right in my ear! I stood there and swallowed every line and every scene and thought it was the greatest movie made in a long time. Mission accomplished — I was preached to!

My husband is not a climate denier. He’s a really smart and genuinely thoughtful guy! Still, this movie pushed all the wrong buttons. He felt confused, triggered, guilted, and shamed, and as if anything, that the satire had only made him feel like an important topic like climate change had become a joke. Not at all did he feel motivated to change any of his behaviors, nor did he sense the urgency of getting to work.

“I just think it’s a bad movie missing the opportunity to deliver an important point, that’s all.”

At first, this fueled my frustration further. How could he — the love of my life — say these things? How can he watch this movie and not sense the urgency of doing all we can to save our only home?

Because (and it took me a while to see it clearly but… wow) it had communicated to him with all the wrong tools.

It didn’t shift the narrative on the climate conversation at all, it took all the ammunition it had and fired a huge doomsday bomb that exploded right in his face, filled with a lot of fear, confusion, and shame!

This movie, if I may boldly say so, is the opposite of what climate optimism is all about, and I believe an important film about climate change — one that sparks urgency, connection, and hope, is still to be made.

The takeaways (from the Gennari household)

• Don’t Look Up is a funny movie showcasing how blissfully ignorant we are to the fact that we’re racing towards our own extinction. It hits the mark in many ways in terms of how (sadly) realistic much of the storyline is in regards to climate science.
• For the people who are already extremely worried about climate change, this will undoubtedly fuel your frustration with the world, people in power, and those around you.
• For the people who weren’t worried yet, this movie may trigger a serious understanding of how scary climate change is. Most likely, you who fall into this category, will head right into climate anxiety and feel like there’s nothing we can do to turn this around. Doomsday message delivered!
• Some will see the film and feel really motivated to get to climate action. It will serve as the “wake-up call” they were waiting for.
• Many people will probably, like my husband, feel personally attacked and triggered, and confused about what to take from it. Who is “to blame”?
• Some people will have no clue the film is even about climate change.
• Just like the “real” climate change, some people will feel triggered to act, others not so much. The question remains — will we awaken the right half or keep preaching to the choir?

My thoughts on the movie?

It’s good! I really liked it and I think it’s a great example of what our situation with climate change looks like. If you’re looking for something to watch over the Holidays I’d say — go see it! But I want you to be mindful of the narrative in which the story is being told and ask yourself how you feel about the world — and your place in it — having watched it.

Are you hopeful? Do you feel motivated to get to action? Do you have faith in society and the people around you? Do you think we can actually come together as a world about climate change and figure this out?

The one thing I feel is missing from the movie and that might be a lot to ask for from a 2,5-hour movie, are action steps. Now when our climate awareness is sparked — what do we do?

That is why I was thrilled to learn by Katharine Hayhoe that she’ has been helping Netflix design the Don’t Look Up Action Network where you receive easy and concrete tips on how to get to action on climate NOW!

Choose to be the change, choose to create optimism and hope, choose to do all you can to co-create a better world!

Because do you know what? Our work here is way too urgent and too important to lose ourselves in doomsday messages and despair!

Did you see Don’t Look Up? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!