Chasing Ice Review

• 6th Dec 2012

Jeff Orlowski delivers a short yet stimulating documentary that combines the ongoing effects of global warming with one man’s struggle to Document it in visual style.

The man is photographer James Balog has done extensive work with the likes of National Geographic and literally goes to the coldest reaches of the Earth to document glaciers and the receding nature of ice caps across the top of the globe.

The film quite literally makes the point that basically no one is listening to the argument about global warming and half the issue may be because most of the time audiences are being presented with numbers and graphs. Chasing ice sets out to show Balog’s project (which extend over several years) to document through pictures, from several specifically placed cameras just how much the landscape is being affected.

The determination and almost obsessive commitment Balog has to this project is also fascinating as you see that he has had, and continues to have surgery performed on his Knees in order to be able to keep going on his life threatening work. This thread of the documentary is shown in all its honesty and never slumps into any form of melodrama. The drama mainly is delivered from mother nature herself.

The message becomes fairly clear in the results the team finally get, and yet at the same time as an audience member you are treated to some of the most beautifully and surreal natural photography you are likely to see for a while. Sure it’s all about the angle, and often lighting, but it is no less impressive when you see what this team have to go through and risk in order to get the shots they need.

Chasing Ice may not be saying anything new, but it is saying it in a new way and remains an argument that will and should continue to thrive as the years pass.

Steven Hurst