Released in 2016, the documentary "Before the Flood", presented by National Geographic and directed by Fisher Stevens, as well as produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, tells the reality of our current ecological catastrophe. The film and its message are aimed at those who are already environmentally aware or those who are looking to educate themselves. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The topic of Before the Flood addresses the realities we face regarding climate change and how/if the effects can be reversed. The film follows Leonardo DiCaprio on a three-year journey around the globe to grapple with the changing Earth. DiCaprio meets with numerous influential scientists, politicians and lobbyists to discuss their individual views on climate change issues, as well as opinions on what can be done. The film was shot over the course of three years and details DiCaprio's visits to five continents, as well as the Arctic. The documentary dedicates a good portion of its hour-and-a-half runtime to talking about issues surrounding global change. From the Paris Agreement, to the carbon tax, to the anti-climate change lobby. The film was financed by Leonardo DiCaprio himself, proving that he cares about this issue. One of the first themes covered by the film is the tar sands. The implications of the oil sands are terrifying, wreaking havoc on local ecosystems and producing huge amounts of greenhouse gases. In the book Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent, the author states that a proposed oil sands mine expansion would effectively destroy 31,000 acres of forest and would also destroy 170 acres of fish habitat along the Muskeg River. it would also drain hundreds of thousands of gallons of fresh water. (Nikiforuk) Another major issue addressed by DiCaprio is the mass destruction of coral reefs. As stated in the film, over a billion people depend on fishing around coral reefs for their livelihoods. The film also states that the reason for the destruction of these coral reefs is massive carbon emissions from the ocean. In the journal National Meteorological and Ocean Service Centennials it is stated that an increase in ocean temperatures has been cited as the main cause of mass coral bleaching. It is stated that mortality due to coral bleaching can occur as a result of prolonged exposure to heat leading to the loss of coral reef habitats and structures. (Spillman) Another important point of the film is the mass deforestation that occurs in Indonesia. The film details how massive, ancient rainforests act as a kind of carbon sponge, but when they are cut down to make way for palm oil plantations, they release huge concentrations of carbon into the atmosphere. In a recent study on palm oil production, it was reported that “The amount of carbon released when just one hectare of forest is cleared to grow oil palms is roughly equivalent to the amount of carbon produced by 530 people flying from Geneva to New York in economy class” (Phys). The purpose of the film is to spread awareness of the current state of our earth by depicting what has already begun (e.g. melting polar ice, deforestation in Indonesia). The message the director wanted to convey is that climate change is occurring on a large scale and that humanity must face this catastrophic event head on. Before watching this film, I felt I had a solid grasp of what was going on.