Just as the East Coast awakes to prepare for a night socialising, Capitol Hill goes to bed early to prepare for tomorrow's impossible contradictions. Despite the empty streets, a few moviegoers have braved the human vacuum to see a small movie that deals with the inadequacies of Romania's health system. As I exit, feeling contented, I pass by Screen 4 where An Inconvenient Truth is ending. The patrons looked shocked by what they've seen, appalled that such 'truths' were only revealed to them in pseudo documentary style by former presidential hopeful Al Gore and not by their democratically elected government. I had seen a similar confused mob of cinemagoers discussing this film's implications in New York a fortnight previously; this scene was occurring across the nation, according to the ever-reliable US media. An Inconvenient Truth, in keeping with a theme prevalent in US political circles, is designed to scare people - and has succeeded. This environmental treatise seeks to activate, hoping citizens will leap into fervent action to save their homeland from the ravages of pollution, rather than the oft-offered 'Islamic terror' (the replacement for the 'Evil Empire').

The film itself is very straightforward; most of it takes place in a lecture-style environment (pardon the pun). From this podium, or, more accuratly, pedestal, the honourable Mr. Gore tells us how the world is being destroyed by man, the US and, ultimately, by the political party he opposes. Al Gore plays the role of the sympathetic but acknowledged 'ex-politician' exceedingly well; the scenes which transpire outside of his lecture hall are creations intended to illicit sympathy for the man and his cause, and again, ultimately, for his political party. This technique is effective; Gore's claims are supported with clever, amusing and habitually shocking graphs, all the while assuring us that these are the opinions of the academic community. This serves a double function, this man has learned one lesson from the previous US election: Americans respond well to the common man. So Gore uses scientific fact efficiently while keeping his distance from it, he is merely the people's champion, the brave crusader fighting for global justice. It is an effective tactic; perhaps too transparent, but most will forgive him this incongruity because his message is virtuous and having an 'everyman' average American's can relate to on this issue is a good thing.

Put simply, An Incovnenient Truth is propaganda, but in this case I 'choose' to agree with it. If there is to be real action, more people need to take an interest in this issue – particularly in the US. This is a little too much Al Gore's movie for my liking, but Gore is difficult not to like; he seems reasonable, measured and in no way bitter about his 'democratic' defeat in the presidential elections. Overall this is a really refined movie, nicely played and shot but, moreover, extremely well balanced. There is enough hard information to astonish and inform, while there is enough emotion and storytelling to keep the public entertained and involved. The blend is perfect and ultimately captivating, both for me, and the bewildered American audience.

Yet despite the strong public response to this fine documentary, it would be naïve to think – be the government Democrat or Republican – that the decision to protect our global commons will be made before it is in the US's interest to do so or, more specifically, before it's profitable. I hope both for my and Mr. Gore's sake that America and its good people can prove me wrong… and soon.

Darragh Fingleton

Rated G (see IFCO website for details)
An Inconvenient Truth is released on 15th September 2006.
An Inconvenient Truth – Official website