– Emma Wall and Betsy Hershey’s fast-paced observational documentary follows US activist Michael Greenberg, the founder of the Climate Defiance protest movement
Just Look Up is an effective film about the climate crisis or emergency, which doesn’t actually contain much exposition on the subject. Following the quite remarkable Michael Greenberg, who founded Climate Defiance, a protest and activist group demanding stronger climate-change mitigation policies in the USA, it stays by his side and on his shoulder throughout the torrid year of Trump’s re-election, resulting in a canny portrait of this moment in recent history. The debut feature by co-directors Emma Wall (who’s of Danish descent) and Betsy Hershey, it premiered this week in CPH:DOX’s F:ACT Award Competition, alongside a slot at Thessaloniki. Comedy legend-turned-politico Adam McKay and Joshua Oppenheimer (a longtime Copenhagen resident) are credited as executive producers.
First seen gatecrashing a country-club dinner hosting Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, Greenberg and his intrepid group confront him on stage for his “funding of fossil fuels” and dramatically unfurl a banner with its logo altered to “Bank of Atrocities”. Predictably, security efficiently escorts them out, although their tussles with these “heavies” at future demonstrations will turn far more dangerous. Still, they have achieved a key component of their mission: internet virality, and a hint or warning – like a folk hero – that they’ll be seen again. But understandably, sceptical voices across the film, from journalists ostensibly on their side to close family and friends, question not only their tactics, but also their overall efficacy in influencing policy under the centrist Democrat administration.
Although the movie is fully observational, bar the odd off-camera prompt or remark to Greenberg, Wall and Hershey are granted considerable access so that they (rightfully) appear as allies, rather than objective witnesses. And they know there are further layers to this story and bring genuine richness to their movie by distinguishing Greenberg’s personality and motivation from fellow travellers such as Greta Thunberg, or the more controversial UK interventions of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion. The intersectional nature of his identity is vital: he is queer, observantly Jewish (we see him preparing a Shabbat meal, one of many references to the faith) and a genuinely talented stand-up comic (the glimpses of this hobby, at various open-mic nights, are real treats). Thus, we can feel how empowering this vocation is for him, after various disappointing experiences working at non-profits, earlier in his career. His shrewdness about political power and visibility echoes through the current millennial, transatlantic generation of leftists, such as the UK Green Party’s Zack Polanski and the newly inaugurated New York mayor Zohran Mamdani, himself glimpsed late in the film with a note of cautious optimism.
Just Look Up swerves dryness and argumentative bluntness: DoP Timothy Grucza’s camera rides shotgun with these fearless twenty-somethings, allowing us to vicariously experience the thrill, and peril, of sticking it to the “man”, whilst getting a few minor bruises as souvenirs. Regarding the more technical and scientific details of this “overshoot” phase of the climate crisis, the directors either assume we’re up to date or want to keep the focus on the controversial protest tactics; the most conspicuous omission, for sure, is exactly how Greenberg became more radicalised. Following decades of green activism, the developed world is no closer to altering its habits, but Just Look Up shows Greenberg as an early adopter, accurately alerting us to the fact that the sky is falling.
Just Look Up is a co-production by the USA and Denmark, staged by Final Cut for Real.
