Ep 13. The Hottest August

The Independent Lens season 21 episode 13, titled "The Hottest August," offers a unique perspective on climate change by delving into the lives of ordinary people and how they are impacted by rising global temperatures. The episode takes place in August of 2017, which happens to be the hottest month on record in New York City.

The director Brett Story uses a unique approach to document climate change by having conversations with New Yorkers on various topics like politics, economics, and social issues, including immigration, race, and police brutality. She talks to people from different walks of life, including a retired NASA scientist, a young bartender, a musician, and others. The conversations are interspersed with environmental footage and verité scenes, creating an organic and conversational atmosphere.

The show attempts to capture the collective sense of anxiety that is palpable in the city as the temperature rises, streets are flooded, and people begin to question their future. In this episode, filmmakers do not aim to preach about climate change, nor do they use fear tactics or compelling statistics to convince people. Instead, they let New Yorkers tell their own stories and struggles as they try to cope with the effects of climate change.

The conversations that the director has with New Yorkers cover a wide range of topics, including conspiracy theories about hurricanes caused by HAARP, the idea of a universal basic income, and the impact of police brutality on communities of color. The discussion on climate change is more of a backdrop, a natural part of the conversation, rather than something that is explicitly highlighted.

Through these conversations, the director is able to demonstrate that climate change is not just an environmental issue. It is inseparable from the broader social, economic, and political systems that define our daily lives. As one of the characters says in the episode, "Everything is linked."

The show also manages to capture the beauty of New York City in August. From bustling streets to empty footpaths, the cinematography is stunning, and the director paints a vivid picture of the city experiencing a state of flux as it grapples with the effects of climate change. The camera captures various locations in the city, from Coney Island to the Bronx, revealing the diversity of experiences and perspectives in the city.

Overall, The Hottest August is an engaging and thought-provoking documentary that offers a unique perspective on climate change. The director uses a conversational style to get people talking about the issue, and by doing so, she shows that climate change is not just a story about the natural world. It is a story about people, their struggles, and their ideas for a better future. In the end, it inspires us to think more deeply about our relationship with the Earth and the role we play in shaping our collective future.