88 reviews
One of the better documentaries I've watched in recent years.
My favourite part of this film is that it reserved judgment one way or another about the subject that they were covering so intimately, which must have been quite a tight-rope to walk, but they succeeding in this perfectly.
I don't usually comment on others' reviews, but I have to add that I suspect the vast majority of people giving this a 1/10 (a 1? Those aren't serious votes or Leni Riefenstahl's films would all get 1/10 if the only merit measured is the popularity of the subject matter, come on now) I would bet my left arm never watched this film at all, at most they have read synopses of parts some alt-right website found a hair to split with on Facebook or 8chan or wherever, and are basing their votes purely based on what their particular political cult tells them is bad or good.
So don't heed the low rating this gets on IMDb, this really is an emotionally engaging and insight film no matter whether you are someone who even doesn't believe man-made climate change is real. I watched this with one guy, an Engineer, who thinks climate change is actually due to environmental encroachment. the other one a QAnon-believing III%er, and we talked about the film for a good two hours afterward, which I think is a sign of a successful film in my books.
I don't usually comment on others' reviews, but I have to add that I suspect the vast majority of people giving this a 1/10 (a 1? Those aren't serious votes or Leni Riefenstahl's films would all get 1/10 if the only merit measured is the popularity of the subject matter, come on now) I would bet my left arm never watched this film at all, at most they have read synopses of parts some alt-right website found a hair to split with on Facebook or 8chan or wherever, and are basing their votes purely based on what their particular political cult tells them is bad or good.
So don't heed the low rating this gets on IMDb, this really is an emotionally engaging and insight film no matter whether you are someone who even doesn't believe man-made climate change is real. I watched this with one guy, an Engineer, who thinks climate change is actually due to environmental encroachment. the other one a QAnon-believing III%er, and we talked about the film for a good two hours afterward, which I think is a sign of a successful film in my books.
- greg-goremykin
- Nov 12, 2020
- Permalink
Polaricing Persona...
It's disturbing that so much vitriol and hate can be targeted at a young woman whose only wish is for the governments of the world to recognise the overwhelming evidence that supports climate change and for them to do something about it before it's too late (assuming it's not too late already). Conversely, it's refreshing and inspiring to know that a young woman has been able to mobilise such a strong and powerful force to fight against the intransigence and/or misinformation pedalled primarily by biased middle aged and older men; although this is primarily a documentary about a person and not a movement. That person is trying to change the world for the better and, with the help, support and vision of the youth of today (and a few others), let's wish her success in her crusade against greed, corruption and ignorance while joining her in the fight for our survival!
This is not about science
Your rating on imdb should be about if you liked the documentary and not if you believe in what Greta stands for.
'I am Greta' is a beautiful portret how one small girl started a movement. The sequence of her public speeches she has written herself shows what an exceptionally gifted person she is. And how the world leaders have no idea how to react to that. The film also zooms in on her vulnerable sides as a result of the immense pressure on her shoulders.
I really enjoyed watching it and had a lump in my throat during a big part of it.
'I am Greta' is a beautiful portret how one small girl started a movement. The sequence of her public speeches she has written herself shows what an exceptionally gifted person she is. And how the world leaders have no idea how to react to that. The film also zooms in on her vulnerable sides as a result of the immense pressure on her shoulders.
I really enjoyed watching it and had a lump in my throat during a big part of it.
- martijnrhijnsburger
- Oct 30, 2020
- Permalink
A Great Doc About A Remarkable Person
Ignore all of the reviews here by the flat earth, climate deniers. Imagine being an adult and having nothing better to do than come on a movie site and LIE about a movie you haven't even seen.
The movie follows Greta from her earliest time in front of the Swedish parliament, through all of her events in Europe to her speech at the UN. You are given a front row seat at the events but also a backstage pass, as she travels to the events, works on her speeches and struggles with the burden put on her as a teenager.
And the way I know that the flat earth folks haven't seen the movie ? Greta writes her own speeches with little or no input from anyone. There is NO ONE whispering in her ear or handing her something to read. And when short comments are called for, she delivers them off the cuff, like someone who has done it all her life.
A great doc about a remarkable person. A shame that so much hate is shown to someone who is a true leader in our very screwed up world.
Update - 9 of 24 people who read my review liked it. I am going to suggest that the other 15 haven't even seen the film. They are just here trolling anything Greta.
These people are a sad waste of skin.
The movie follows Greta from her earliest time in front of the Swedish parliament, through all of her events in Europe to her speech at the UN. You are given a front row seat at the events but also a backstage pass, as she travels to the events, works on her speeches and struggles with the burden put on her as a teenager.
And the way I know that the flat earth folks haven't seen the movie ? Greta writes her own speeches with little or no input from anyone. There is NO ONE whispering in her ear or handing her something to read. And when short comments are called for, she delivers them off the cuff, like someone who has done it all her life.
A great doc about a remarkable person. A shame that so much hate is shown to someone who is a true leader in our very screwed up world.
Update - 9 of 24 people who read my review liked it. I am going to suggest that the other 15 haven't even seen the film. They are just here trolling anything Greta.
These people are a sad waste of skin.
Amazing movie, people who hate it do not understand it at all
People who say it was a poor movie are the problem in this world.
Amazing movie, the way she discribes the world of rich and powerful people as a weird moviescene. Puppets playing a weird theater.
Amazing to see the people wanting a selfie but not understanding what she really is there to speak about.
crazy world we live in, hopefully some people will realize things have to change before it is too late
- jesse_geelen
- Oct 27, 2020
- Permalink
Climate change must be taken seriously.
Last night it was so refreshing to be back at the cinema for the first time in a few months. It was a good cinema experience as well, only a few people went to the movie and none of them thought it was a good idea to text or be annoying in general, I have one complaint though, I hate leather seats so after about an hour my bum was really sweaty and uncomfortable no matter what position I was sitting in. Besides that I don't have any major issues with I am Greta.
Greta Thunberg is a really interesting person I wanted to learn more about before going into this documentary. By the end I got everything I wanted out of a documentary like this one and more. I knew she had Aspergers but I didn't know about her struggles with anxiety, depression or selective mutism, I can only applaud her for doing so much public speaking and pushing past all of these things knowing that nobody else is going to stand up for what is right. If you think these "disabilities" mean that Greta should not be taken seriously then you are an idiot. Often times people with aspergers have very high intelligence, great verbal skills, ability to absorb and retain large amount of information, ability to think in visual images, be very self motivated, ability to think outside the box and generate novel solutions to problems (like climate change) and might show a strong aptitude for a particular topic. The list goes on.
The presentation was a bit bland and some of the shot composition made it tough to know what was happening in only a couple of scenes. But I understand that when filming a documentary often you can't get the ideal shots and have to work with what you have. I also thought that the one soundtrack song was really out of place and was very unnecessary, the score was fairly generic but it was effective. I would have liked to see more of her internal struggle before attending the protests and I would have liked to see more of how it was to travel on a boat for 15 straight days as well.
My favourite part of the entire experience was exposing many world leaders for being phony and not listening to what Greta and the thousands of protestors from around the world are saying. A lot of the current world leaders simply refuse climate change calling it a hoax and saying that the science is faked, or they just aren't acknowledging that it is a crisis. This is so ridiculously arrogant or just stupid, either way do we want anyone like that in charge of our country?
Climate is a colossal issue that absolutely has to be acted on soon or there will be no future. If you refuse climate change or think that because Greta has asperger syndrome, OCD and selective mutism she is uninformed and lying about this issue you don't deserve to be in the position you are in right now, all you are doing is destroying our planet without thinking of anyone but yourself, you are arrogant, uneducated, and selfish.
Greta Thunberg is a really interesting person I wanted to learn more about before going into this documentary. By the end I got everything I wanted out of a documentary like this one and more. I knew she had Aspergers but I didn't know about her struggles with anxiety, depression or selective mutism, I can only applaud her for doing so much public speaking and pushing past all of these things knowing that nobody else is going to stand up for what is right. If you think these "disabilities" mean that Greta should not be taken seriously then you are an idiot. Often times people with aspergers have very high intelligence, great verbal skills, ability to absorb and retain large amount of information, ability to think in visual images, be very self motivated, ability to think outside the box and generate novel solutions to problems (like climate change) and might show a strong aptitude for a particular topic. The list goes on.
The presentation was a bit bland and some of the shot composition made it tough to know what was happening in only a couple of scenes. But I understand that when filming a documentary often you can't get the ideal shots and have to work with what you have. I also thought that the one soundtrack song was really out of place and was very unnecessary, the score was fairly generic but it was effective. I would have liked to see more of her internal struggle before attending the protests and I would have liked to see more of how it was to travel on a boat for 15 straight days as well.
My favourite part of the entire experience was exposing many world leaders for being phony and not listening to what Greta and the thousands of protestors from around the world are saying. A lot of the current world leaders simply refuse climate change calling it a hoax and saying that the science is faked, or they just aren't acknowledging that it is a crisis. This is so ridiculously arrogant or just stupid, either way do we want anyone like that in charge of our country?
Climate is a colossal issue that absolutely has to be acted on soon or there will be no future. If you refuse climate change or think that because Greta has asperger syndrome, OCD and selective mutism she is uninformed and lying about this issue you don't deserve to be in the position you are in right now, all you are doing is destroying our planet without thinking of anyone but yourself, you are arrogant, uneducated, and selfish.
- noahgibbobaker
- Oct 15, 2020
- Permalink
Disgusting.
Woke rubbish exploiting a already overexploited poor sick kid. A testament to how low the green far left fanatics stoop in order to push their agenda.
Genius
Saw this at Venice film festival. Was absolutely blown away. Wonderfully created, and Greta is the biggest inspiration we've seen on planet earth in such a young and spritely body.
The children will save this world
The children will save this world
- williamguilfoyle
- Sep 4, 2020
- Permalink
An Inconvenient Truth
For many it was former U.S. Vice President Al Gore's slide-show presentation of a documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth" (2006), Greta Thunberg cites a video she saw at school on polar bears endangered by the loss of sea ice from climate change, and for others it's been Thunberg's activism spotlighted in social media and for still others it very well could be "I Am Greta" that awakens them to the perils of global warming. Motion pictures are powerful that way. Such reflexive musings occasionally made by Thunberg--she also compares her travels and rise to fame to as if she were living in a movie-- aside, I didn't have high expectations for this documentary, as I'm not usually very interested in such cinematic lectures or celebrity profiles. That "I Am Greta" hasn't received stellar reviews, albeit more positive than not, from the sort of entertainment critics that tend to be predisposed to such material wasn't heartening, either. But, I like the observational approach of the camera here mixed with Thunberg's narration, and director Nathan Grossman got quite the scoop capturing the teenager's initially-solo school strike outside the Swedish parliament and building it up into a saga of the schoolgirl crisscrossing Europe, meeting world leaders and inspiring other children around the world, before ending with a climactic sea voyage across the Atlantic to admonish more politicians to their faces at the United Nations in New York.
Thunberg says her activism isn't about her but rather about the issue of anthropogenic climate change, but Grossman is right to keep the focus on the star here, and she's adroit at exploiting--her, not her parents or whomever else, as is made clear in the documentary--her position as a Swedish child, including one with Asperger's, to do what no adult could really get away with--making being curt and passionate in her lecturing come across as inspirational and appealing to the paternal instincts of the supposed adults in the room. I mean, besides the ones who are despots or childish nincompoops, or both--your Bolsonaros, Putins, Trumps and Piers Morgans of the world. It's impressive how she's built a following and movement and has leveraged it to put pressure on leaders and figures who care about governing--the likes of Macron, Merkel, the Pope, even former governator Arnold Schwarzenegger. One of the common laments of "I Am Greta" seems to be that it won't convert anyone from the other side. Yet, in an age when science is denied for political reasons and others are demonized even when they're a teenager, that was never really a possibility. Thunberg has the right idea focusing on her peers who haven't yet grown into a feedback loop of confirmation bias, conspiracy theories and misinformation. The science here is established, so her role is to push her movement to galvanize the adults capable of accepting responsibility and scoff at the rest of them.
The best exchange in the whole movie, though, is the first one. An old woman approaches Thunberg to reprimand her for not being in school, to which Thunberg retorts that there's no need for an education without a future. Two years later, at 17, she's already been more altruistic and influential in her career as a climate-change activist than whomever that old woman was or most of us ever will be. Even those who don't understand the greenhouse effect or comprehend the dangers of humanity's destruction of nature even while a resulting pandemic rages should be able to see the irony there.
Thunberg says her activism isn't about her but rather about the issue of anthropogenic climate change, but Grossman is right to keep the focus on the star here, and she's adroit at exploiting--her, not her parents or whomever else, as is made clear in the documentary--her position as a Swedish child, including one with Asperger's, to do what no adult could really get away with--making being curt and passionate in her lecturing come across as inspirational and appealing to the paternal instincts of the supposed adults in the room. I mean, besides the ones who are despots or childish nincompoops, or both--your Bolsonaros, Putins, Trumps and Piers Morgans of the world. It's impressive how she's built a following and movement and has leveraged it to put pressure on leaders and figures who care about governing--the likes of Macron, Merkel, the Pope, even former governator Arnold Schwarzenegger. One of the common laments of "I Am Greta" seems to be that it won't convert anyone from the other side. Yet, in an age when science is denied for political reasons and others are demonized even when they're a teenager, that was never really a possibility. Thunberg has the right idea focusing on her peers who haven't yet grown into a feedback loop of confirmation bias, conspiracy theories and misinformation. The science here is established, so her role is to push her movement to galvanize the adults capable of accepting responsibility and scoff at the rest of them.
The best exchange in the whole movie, though, is the first one. An old woman approaches Thunberg to reprimand her for not being in school, to which Thunberg retorts that there's no need for an education without a future. Two years later, at 17, she's already been more altruistic and influential in her career as a climate-change activist than whomever that old woman was or most of us ever will be. Even those who don't understand the greenhouse effect or comprehend the dangers of humanity's destruction of nature even while a resulting pandemic rages should be able to see the irony there.
- Cineanalyst
- Nov 16, 2020
- Permalink
Great movie
One of the most inspiring people in our time - watch it!
- ksteinbichler
- Sep 17, 2020
- Permalink
Cringe when you watch the Macron small talk
Post-Covid cinema return with Gertie.
Slickly assembled, politely intrusive and sometimes affecting; I Am Greta fleshes out the eco-warrior and her supportive family. Greta herself quips "a very surreal movie because the plot would be so unlikely."
Scenes between Greta and her omnipresent father are the most touching, particularly instances when he pleads her to make time in her gruelling schedule to eat (a banana). And of particular interest was Greta's uncomfortableness with the prospect of heightened media interest.
It all concludes with the epic, horrendous sailing to New York. "I don't want to have to do all this," she tearfully confides as waves crash against the hull. "It's too much for me." Greta is visible in her truest and most relatable form: a frightened young girl at the mercy of a natural world she hopes to protect, who simply wants to be at home with her dogs.
Slickly assembled, politely intrusive and sometimes affecting; I Am Greta fleshes out the eco-warrior and her supportive family. Greta herself quips "a very surreal movie because the plot would be so unlikely."
Scenes between Greta and her omnipresent father are the most touching, particularly instances when he pleads her to make time in her gruelling schedule to eat (a banana). And of particular interest was Greta's uncomfortableness with the prospect of heightened media interest.
It all concludes with the epic, horrendous sailing to New York. "I don't want to have to do all this," she tearfully confides as waves crash against the hull. "It's too much for me." Greta is visible in her truest and most relatable form: a frightened young girl at the mercy of a natural world she hopes to protect, who simply wants to be at home with her dogs.
Great Doco
Climate Change is so important to us all. Great to be informed and inspired by this remarkable human.
- lablover-19039
- Oct 12, 2020
- Permalink
A sincere production in a post truth world
Greta is authentic and this film is a tonic in a shallow consumerist world. The comments on the low scores are often frivolous. It is sad that people are so threatened by the truth, although of course it is an uncomfortable truth, that they attack Greta, very cowardly. It is great to see behind the scenes as the news was hitting about various moments. Very highly recommended
- tanyameschko
- Nov 10, 2020
- Permalink
Powerful figure, kind of meh documentary
I've been following her since this started to snowball and watched this wanting to know more of her.
We see her and we learn about her and see her growing through the months but I find the documentary omitted an important bit which happened just after the "how dare you" moment. She realized she should not be the main figure and instead started asking people to research and, among all, read the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report.
I know that part is boring, it is, but is also very important.
I cannot strike enough how I didn't even knew what that was until she mentioned it, over and over again. So, thank you Greta, for your job and your movement.
The documentary though is kind of meh.
We see her and we learn about her and see her growing through the months but I find the documentary omitted an important bit which happened just after the "how dare you" moment. She realized she should not be the main figure and instead started asking people to research and, among all, read the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report.
I know that part is boring, it is, but is also very important.
I cannot strike enough how I didn't even knew what that was until she mentioned it, over and over again. So, thank you Greta, for your job and your movement.
The documentary though is kind of meh.
Strong
The world needs more strong people who believe in change and in a better future. This film is for all those who do not want to close their eyes.
A favorable review ... but not for why you might think
Powerful, passionate, personal documentary
Ok, Greta is unique. There has never been anyone like her. This film follows her and her father on their journey to wake the leaders of the world from the climate coma. Extremely well photographed. Funny, personal, impressive, a bit sad and very touching. This documentary will probably be the most important of our time. A million thanks to director/cinematographer Nathan Grossman for making this film document.
Does Greta Thurnberg's Message Unite the Majority?
I have always supported Greta Thurnberg's message. the climate crisis is a problem. The positives her is that the film highlights the hypocrisy of the world leaders in saying that they care about climate change, yet it is clear they treat Greta's message as a kind of interesting sideshow or spectacle for them to simply look as though they are listening and action is being taken. the film also sheds light on the narcissistic atmosphere of the political, cultural and religious elite as appearing to care about the issues she presents. However, these elites are simply going through the "meet and greet" formalities simply because (most likely) they are happy to associate with her to look as though they are on her side in order to enhance their own image.
The film does show Greta's awareness that the media are seeking to portray her as the leader of the environmental leader who began 'schools strike for climate', a point she is seen to reject in the film when a reporter tells her this. It is unfortunate that in some cases among her supporters this is the case of treating her as some sort of environmental figurehead or heroine, particularly online, have the impact of producing the opposite result Greta had intended. The latter who support Greta Thurnberg for her identity are people who have, perhaps unwittingly, created a cult of personality around her, prioritising her identity over what she proposes to do to tackle the climate crisis.
I will never forgive Thurnberg for spreading an ageist message that it is the fault of everyone of a certain age that the climate crisis is a problem that they and they alone have caused as opposed to the system as well as capitalism itself. She does in fact criticise the systemic problems but she is overly focused on uniting the youth as opposed to those outside the youth. She lacks the empathy/theory of mind that there are those on the fringes of society who are atomised and outsiders who find it difficult to even belong to any social grouping, let alone organise and join a movement. Her Aspergers or age should not excuse her of this as I have Aspergers myself and have the empathy to notice the difficulties associated with the outsiders that she seems to be unaware of.
Greta is also too eager to valorise one segment of the population, the youth, as the ones who will provide the solution. Although she means well, divisive identity politics will NOT create any intergenerational solidarity in tackling the climate crisis in the long-term. The youth segment of the population are not a majority, therefore it is incumbent on people within environmental movements to include everyone instead of demonising older individuals that they don't even know.
The film does show Greta's awareness that the media are seeking to portray her as the leader of the environmental leader who began 'schools strike for climate', a point she is seen to reject in the film when a reporter tells her this. It is unfortunate that in some cases among her supporters this is the case of treating her as some sort of environmental figurehead or heroine, particularly online, have the impact of producing the opposite result Greta had intended. The latter who support Greta Thurnberg for her identity are people who have, perhaps unwittingly, created a cult of personality around her, prioritising her identity over what she proposes to do to tackle the climate crisis.
I will never forgive Thurnberg for spreading an ageist message that it is the fault of everyone of a certain age that the climate crisis is a problem that they and they alone have caused as opposed to the system as well as capitalism itself. She does in fact criticise the systemic problems but she is overly focused on uniting the youth as opposed to those outside the youth. She lacks the empathy/theory of mind that there are those on the fringes of society who are atomised and outsiders who find it difficult to even belong to any social grouping, let alone organise and join a movement. Her Aspergers or age should not excuse her of this as I have Aspergers myself and have the empathy to notice the difficulties associated with the outsiders that she seems to be unaware of.
Greta is also too eager to valorise one segment of the population, the youth, as the ones who will provide the solution. Although she means well, divisive identity politics will NOT create any intergenerational solidarity in tackling the climate crisis in the long-term. The youth segment of the population are not a majority, therefore it is incumbent on people within environmental movements to include everyone instead of demonising older individuals that they don't even know.
Inspiring on every level. Wake the hell up!
This documentary shows you the inside of a person that is so deeply concerned with the world and what will happen with it that she basically abandons here childhood for that.
When you see here crying on a boat in the middle of the atlantic, waves crushing against it just because it is against here principle to fly and you hear her crying, saying that this all to much for her you will know how committed she is and that she is real.
She repeats that this is not her job but since grown ups fail to it she feels she has to. And all those small-minded people who will criticize her for how she looks or that she has asperger syndrom or that she does that for fame only proof that Greta is right that they have learned nothing yet. There are people actually sending death threats to that child! Climate change was real even before Greta was born and our children will pay for our recklessness if we don't do something. Wake the hell up!
When you see here crying on a boat in the middle of the atlantic, waves crushing against it just because it is against here principle to fly and you hear her crying, saying that this all to much for her you will know how committed she is and that she is real.
She repeats that this is not her job but since grown ups fail to it she feels she has to. And all those small-minded people who will criticize her for how she looks or that she has asperger syndrom or that she does that for fame only proof that Greta is right that they have learned nothing yet. There are people actually sending death threats to that child! Climate change was real even before Greta was born and our children will pay for our recklessness if we don't do something. Wake the hell up!
- PaxtonMalloy
- Oct 17, 2020
- Permalink
Crucial viewing!
Greta is a force to reckon with. Very interesting and inspiring. Loved this!
A docufilm showing various aspects of Greta's life.
A documentary showing various aspects of Greta's life. It's nice to see his irony in some cases, his laughter is contagious. A fair film for those who want to know the story of one of the most famous activists in the world and creators of the Fridays For Future movement.
- pinocchietto
- Dec 9, 2020
- Permalink
The world needs more Gretas!
Thank you, Greta, and the makers of the important documentary. Our world needs more caring people. Please continue! 💚💚💚
- wendylouwho-91409
- Oct 20, 2020
- Permalink
I Am Greta
- jboothmillard
- Feb 6, 2021
- Permalink
She's Got Guts!
Inspiring. Such passion & commitment. We can all learn something from this documentary. If not about climate change then about dogged determination & standing up and speaking out sternly (and peacefully) though steadfastly in one's belief. Get'em Greta!
- mrscourtneybrown
- Nov 19, 2020
- Permalink
Portrait of a generational leader
An apt look at a brave and remarkable figure that's been able to galvanise the urgency that her generation faces as a result of climate change and inertia of inaction
- jasperclee
- Oct 11, 2020
- Permalink