The NFB’s 7th Academy-Award winning film. This short film is comprised of a lecture given to students by outspoken nuclear critic Dr. Helen Caldicott, president of Physicians for Social Responsibility in the USA. Her message is clear: disarmament cannot be postponed. Archival footage of the bombing of Hiroshima and images of its survivors seven months after the attack heighten the urgency of her message.
Manifesto Point #7: The social and political goals – and the process itself — are paramount. Ask yourself every day: why are you doing this project? If You Love this Planet could be considered a precursor to An Inconvenient Truth. It’s based on a lecture given by physician and anti-nuclear activist Dr. Helen Caldicott. The film, directed by Terre Nash, went on to win the Oscar for short documentary after being officially designated as "foreign political propaganda" by the U.S. Department of Justice. The film was made at the NFB’s Studio D, the first permanent, state-funded women's film unit in the world, created in 1974. Undoubtedly, the directors and producers were very clear about the question: Why are we making this film?
Katerina Cizek
From the playlist: Manifesto for Interventionist Media - because Art is a Hammer
“It’s appropriate to be passionate” about ridding the world of nuclear weapons. That’s what world-renowned nuclear disarmament activist Helen Caldicott says in this film. It’s interesting that U.S. President Ronald Reagan said the same thing. But Helen means it.
Douglas Roche
From the playlist: The Strength of Peace
Pedagogical evaluations and study guides are only available to CAMPUS subscribers.
Features designed specifically for teachers. Learn more
Already subscribed? Sign in
If You Love This Planet, Terre Nash, provided by the National Film Board of Canada
Show all comments