An Ecology of Hope

This is indeed a film of striking relevance, even though it is nearly 25 years old. Pierre Dansereau, who passed away just days before his 100th birthday, ten years after the release of this documentary directed by his cousin Fernand Dansereau, offers a summation of his life as an ecologist, sharing what he has learned and what knowledge he can pass on to us—along with his optimism. While the film's very traditional style reflects the era of its creation (and the typical ONF style), An Ecology of Hope remains bursting with energy and passion. From Baffin Island to the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, through Percé Rock and the beaches of Brazil, Pierre Dansereau’s boundless love for the wonders of the natural world—its ecosystems, plants, animal species, and their interactions with humans—is at the forefront at every stage of what feels like a final world tour of his favorite places.

It is particularly fascinating to discover all these elderly individuals, who seem to be sages in their respective disciplines (geology, botany, plant sociology, geography, urban planning, etc.), and the surprising vitality that drives them. Is it Dansereau’s overwhelming enthusiasm that rubs off on them? Or are they all simply, like him, still convinced that everything is possible? His optimism is especially evident in contrast to the two pessimistic young women who accompany him in New York. At the age of 90, his hope that humanity will take action to rectify the wrongs done to nature remains central to his concerns because resilience, patience, and the strength of nature are still essential lessons for us. This doesn't mean he has no worries: for him, environmental issues stem from sociological factors—poverty, ignorance, pollution. But hope remains essential in the ecological fight and the desire for change.

At the beginning of the film, he discusses a key concept in his teaching: necessary adversity, which refers to the positive effect that environmental constraints have on all living beings, a necessary stress that promotes adaptation. This may be the most important concept to remember to help us take action, as humans and nature are at the crossroads of all the elements necessary for the emergence of this necessary adversity. In these dark days of increasingly extreme global warming and acute climate crisis, as we draw closer to the point of no return, listening to Pierre Dansereau speak about this Earth that he loves so deeply is not only incredibly moving but perhaps also crucial—indeed, essential. Because he brings back to the heart of today’s ecological challenges a vital and fundamental hope that is too often forgotten in favor of disenchantment, fear, and helplessness—feelings that paralyze action. Hope, on the other hand, fosters friendship, exchange, sharing, mutual assistance, awareness, global solidarity, and, as the ONF website mentions, the ‘harmonization of relationships between all living environments,’ which inevitably leads to action and change. There is still much to learn and do, certainly, but hope will be the driving force behind that change. Yes, An Ecology of Hope is indeed a timely film, and it is good to be reminded of that.

Claire Valade
Critic and programmer