'The Island President' Review

Film Title: The Island President

Starring: Mohamed Nasheed, Ahmed Naseem, Mohamed Aslam

Directed by: John Shenk

Our Rating: 4 stars

Argh! Climate change, we’re all gonna die! Well, actually some people in the Maldives might. Sorry to make it all gloomy but if, like me, you thought that climate change was just another thing happening in the world, then you should watch this; an insightful documentary about a man determined not to give in to the potential catastrophes of global warming.

Jon Shenk’s latest documentary, The Island President, charts the story of Mohamed Nasheed, the President of the Maldives. Having suffered torture, repeated imprisonment and solitary confinement for his opposition to authoritarian leader President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Nasheed finally brought democracy to his home country in 2008 and took on the role of President at the age of 41. Though he may have thought his darkest days were over it soon became apparent that they were only just beginning, as the real threat of climate change loomed over his low-lying island nation. The reality for the Maldives is this: with a sea level rise of just 3 metres the Maldives’ 1200 islands will become a modern-day Atlantis, submerged beneath the surface of the ocean with 3,000 years of history, culture and people lost.

The movie tracks President Nasheed’s first year in office, from his official appointment to the Copenhagen Climate Summit in 2009. Nasheed is a fantastic character. He is funny, delightful, cheeky and outrageously determined to get the recognition, help and cooperation that his nation needs to survive. Ultimately, he’s one politician you’re rooting for; maybe it’s because he’s the underdog, maybe it’s because he was beaten up so many times but often it’s just because he is honest, brave and has moral integrity.

Jon Shenk is, however, the unseen star of the movie. His cinematography set to the dulcet (if slightly gloomy) tones of Radiohead portrays the Maldives as a mythical nation, so beautiful it almost transcends itself. And that’s the point: the eeriness, the glowing blue water and tiny dotted islands are soon to become a thing of stories if the ocean is allowed to claim it over the next few decades. The golden sands and iconic exotic beach holiday images are tainted by the sandbags and diggers placed on the islands’ coastlines in a futile attempt to keep the waves at bay. It’s a harrowing reminder of the ease with which man can fall and of the grim fact that the next generation of Maldivian children could become the first environmental refugees, forced to leave their homeland

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Nasheed lifts your spirits with his warm humour and unrelenting will to solve the problem of climate change with the help of his practical team of people. Though the Copenhagen Climate Summit was seen by many as a failure, thanks to a rousing speech from Nasheed himself it was salvaged from complete disaster with an agreement that marked the first time that the United States, China and India had collectively agreed to reduce carbon emissions. The section of the film documenting the Summit is a rare glimpse into the realities of the political bickering that goes on behind closed doors. Nasheed is like the small kid with glasses (probably called Englebert) thrown amongst the big bullies, struggling to be taken seriously and ending up a little bruised when he attempts to speak up. But Nasheed has been bruised before; his appreciation for his democratic rights is enough for him to square up even to the Chinese in order to save his nation.

The message of Shenk’s documentary remains a serious one but its real triumph is that it’s not preachy. For those of us who live blissfully and ignorantly with the idea that recycling now and then is enough to save the planet, it does not set out to wag its finger nor badger us into a change of behaviour. Instead it simply and poignantly brings home the realities of impending climate disaster, in stark, vivid terms.

You don’t have to live in the Maldives to appreciate that losing your entire culture, your houses, your cinemas, your favourite park bench, is a terrible thing. Think of the uproar if Nelson’s column went under and we’d all have to up-sticks to Ben Nevis? This is the immediacy of the problem for a nation that’s already had its fair share of trials and tribulations to bear. Now, despite being led by a man who’s won numerous political and environmental awards for his work, it faces an even tougher and less forgiving adversary in the form of climate change. The Island President is not trying to change your mind, but it will. In any case, for the beautiful cinematography, the inspirational Nasheed and for a crash course on the little known history of the Maldives, this documentary is well worth a watch.

Please comment if you have anything to add to this review of 'The Island President'.

Also appeared on Best for Film (http://bestforfilm.com/film-reviews/drama/the-island-president/)

McEwan Magnificence

Atonement - Ian McEwan

Before writing about Atonement, I looked back over my review of On Chesil Beach, also by McEwan. I'd titled it 'A Moment in Time Can Change a Lifetime', and I've found that Atonement focuses very much on the same idea - one moment, one single action altering the course of many lives.

Atonement has become incredibly well known, since being released as a film, starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, in 2007. The Novel itself, however, was published in 2001, and shortlisted for the booker prize in the same year. Fortunately, I have not seen the film and can praise Atonement purely as a literary masterpiece without my comments being soiled by impressions from the film.

The story begins on one very hot summer's day in 1935, during which thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis witnesses her older sister, Cecilia, plunging into the garden fountain in her underwear. Robbie Turner watches as she undresses and sinks into the water and soon Briony allows her creative imagination to explore ideas suspended between childhood and adulthood. Her mind eventually leads to her "crime", causing unforgivable shame and irreparable rifts amongst her family.

I mentioned in reviewing On Chesil Beach that McEwan has a remarkable talent for creating atmosphere with language. Of course every good author should be able to create scenes through subtle descriptions and well chosen vocabulary but McEwan is different - every word, every syllable echoes the story and the events to come. The beginning of the story evokes the erotic - from the "sticky" afternoon heat to the description of a fifteen-year-old girl indulging in chocolate. There is something vulgar about McEwan's language making the intimacy between characters seem gross and perverse - and so it should. Everything about McEwan's language is pitched perfectly to the story.

The second part of the novel takes Robbie through Dunkirk in 1940 and is a satisfying account of the war, carefully avoiding cliche. Here the writing is gripping and painful but Robbie's likable character is enough to keep us reading. Erotica is gone from McEwan's writing as the need to portray the reality of horrific history takes hold. But, enough about the plot.

Back to McEwan, there are two things I want to mention. Firstly, there is a moment of truly brilliant writing in the final fifty pages of the novel. I read about ten pages with my nose getting closer and closer to the paper - soon I to realised the words were losing their focus. I was desperate to be included more as my heart raced along with Briony's narrative. The writer is truly magnificent in his writing, describing everything down to the smallest subconscious gestures of the human being.

The second thing is not so good. There is one sex scene which seems utterly unreal to me. Without giving too much away, two virgins realise within one afternoon that they are in love and start having rampant, violent sex against a book case. Biting each other and making love without words, it seems like a very unlikely type of intimacy between two first time lovers. Especially as their love unfolds as everlasting, based upon this first discovery of their feelings for each other.

Despite this, I can safely say that Atonement is definitely worth reading. It is the best book I have read in some time and, whereas McEwan thoroughly disappointed me with On Chesil Beach, with Atonement he blew me away. I'm even looking out for a copy of Amsterdam, a novel that went on to win the 1998 booker prize, to read more of this talented writer. Ultimately, Atonement is a fantastic exploration of guilt and innocence, betrayal and forgiveness, love and hatred - pick up a copy and let it blow your mind.

Please comment if you have anything to add to this review of "Atonement".