An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

An Inconvenient Truth is not your typical Hollywood blockbuster. It’s a documentary directed by Davis Guggenheim, centered around former U.S. Vice President Al Gore’s campaign to raise awareness about global warming. The film played a crucial role in bringing climate change discussions into the mainstream, sparking global debate, policy conversations, and even classroom lessons.

Detailed Summary

Introduction: Gore’s Mission

The film begins with Al Gore explaining how he became passionate about environmental issues. He mixes personal stories with data, recounting his near-loss of his young son and his academic exposure to climate science, particularly under Roger Revelle, one of the first scientists to study rising carbon dioxide levels.

Explaining the Science of Global Warming

Gore uses a Keynote-style presentation filled with graphs, charts, and images. One of the most memorable visuals is the “hockey stick graph,” showing how CO₂ levels have skyrocketed in recent decades. He demonstrates how rising global temperatures correlate directly with human activity.

Evidence of Climate Change Already Happening

Gore highlights multiple case studies around the world: shrinking glaciers in Patagonia and Kilimanjaro, increased hurricanes and typhoons, rising sea levels, and extreme weather patterns. His message is clear: this isn’t a distant problem; it’s happening now.

Political and Personal Obstacles

The film doesn’t shy away from addressing political resistance. Gore notes how special interests, particularly the fossil fuel industry, have tried to downplay climate change. He draws parallels with how the tobacco industry once denied the dangers of smoking.

A Call to Action

The documentary concludes with Gore emphasizing that humans have the tools and knowledge to combat climate change—renewable energy, conservation practices, and international cooperation—but the question is whether we have the political will.

Movie Ending

The film ends on a serious but hopeful note. Gore tells audiences that the problem of global warming is real, urgent, and human-caused, but it is not insurmountable. He directly calls on viewers to take action: reduce energy consumption, pressure governments, and make conscious choices. In the final moments, Gore quotes the old African proverb: “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

The credits roll with a message encouraging people to visit the official website to learn how they can contribute. The message underscores that the documentary isn’t just a film—it’s meant to be a movement.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, there are no post-credits scenes in An Inconvenient Truth. The credits themselves serve as a call to action, directing audiences toward activism and providing resources for further engagement.

Type of Movie

This is a documentary film that combines scientific explanation, personal storytelling, and advocacy. It falls under the category of environmental and political documentaries.

Cast

• Al Gore – central figure and narrator.
• Billy West – narrator of certain segments.

There aren’t traditional actors here, but rather Gore and the experts, footage, and animation used to drive the narrative.

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Michael Brook, with additional contributions by Melissa Etheridge, who wrote and performed the Oscar-winning original song “I Need to Wake Up.” The music blends emotional tones with a sense of urgency, perfectly supporting the film’s themes.

Filming Locations

Much of the film was shot during Gore’s lecture tours, so the “locations” are varied—from lecture halls to international sites affected by climate change. The real importance lies in the global footage: glaciers, hurricane aftermaths, polar ice caps, and cities facing flooding threats. These visuals bring the abstract science into tangible, emotional reality.

Awards and Nominations

• Academy Awards (2007):
  • Won Best Documentary Feature
  • Won Best Original Song (“I Need to Wake Up”)
• Nominated/Won at BAFTA, Critics’ Choice, and PGA Awards.
• The film also helped Al Gore win the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize (shared with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Gore had been giving this slideshow presentation for years before the documentary; the film simply scaled it up with professional cinematography and editing.
• Davis Guggenheim originally worried a film about a slideshow would be “boring,” but was convinced by Gore’s passion and the global importance of the subject.
• Some scenes were updated after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, adding urgency and immediacy to the project.
• Al Gore was deeply involved in the editing process, ensuring scientific accuracy.

Inspirations and References

• Based on the long-running slideshow Al Gore had been giving since the late 1980s.
• Influenced by Roger Revelle’s climate studies at Harvard.
• Connected to Gore’s lifelong environmental activism, dating back to his Senate career.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

While no official alternate ending exists, some extended interviews and slides that didn’t make the theatrical cut were later included in educational DVD versions. These mainly expanded on solutions to climate change and additional case studies.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Al Gore also published a book titled An Inconvenient Truth alongside the film. The book mirrors the film’s content but expands with more detailed graphs, charts, and explanations. It functions as both a companion piece and a standalone educational resource.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The “hockey stick graph” moment where Gore uses a lift to illustrate the dramatic rise in CO₂.
• Footage of Hurricane Katrina linked to climate change.
• Side-by-side images of shrinking glaciers.

Iconic Quotes

• “The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral issue.”
• “What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know. It’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” (quoting Mark Twain)
• “We have everything we need to begin solving this crisis, with the possible exception of the will to act.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The film subtly contrasts Gore’s 2000 election loss with his environmental mission, without making it a central theme.
• Background photos of Gore’s family life quietly reinforce his personal stakes in the fight against climate change.
• The lift used for the CO₂ graph became a symbolic moment, often parodied but also remembered as iconic visual storytelling.

Trivia

• This was the first documentary to win two Academy Awards in different categories (Feature + Original Song).
• The film grossed nearly $50 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing documentaries of its time.
• Screenings were used as political tools worldwide, even shown to lawmakers.
• Some critics claimed it was “alarmist,” but subsequent climate reports validated many of Gore’s warnings.

Why Watch?

Because it’s not just a documentary—it’s a wake-up call. This movie changed society by raising global awareness about climate change and inspiring collective action. If you want to understand how climate change shifted from being a fringe discussion to the center of global politics, this film is essential viewing. It’s emotional, scientifically grounded, and historically significant.

Director’s Other Movies

• It Might Get Loud (2008)
• Waiting for Superman (2010)
• He Named Me Malala (2015)
• Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Chasing Ice (2012)
• Before the Flood (2016)
• Our Planet (2019)
• The 11th Hour (2007)
• Cowspiracy (2014)
• Seaspiracy (2021)