This is the true story of several strangers who found out what happened when a group of ordinary, ecocide-fearing British citizens stopped being polite and started getting real with Rebellion, a movement committed to non-violent civil disobedience. It took some time for the group to gain momentum. When Sam originally happened across their Facebook page, his “mum had more followers.” Gail’s recruitment efforts were frequently met with reactions one might expect when asking strangers “to get naked and take a @%*# in the hall.” It was during the 11-day April Rebellion of 2019 that the group gained worldwide attention. For a period it appeared as if they could bring the government to its knees and make climate change-denial a thing of the past. The group asked that Parliament tell the truth, reach net zero emissions by 2025, and bring about the formation of a citizen’s assembly on ecological justice. In the end, group co-founder Roger Hallam (call Steve Coogan for a biopic) shares with directors Maia Kenworthy and Elena Sánchez Bellot something we’ve all known for quite some time. When it comes to political promises, “the one thing you learn is that humans find it enormously difficult to get their act together.” (Screens as part of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival. Visit: https://ff.hrw.org/san-diego) (2021) — Scott Marks
This movie is not currently in theaters.