It turns out that to be a big assed canary, you don't need some crazy wayward bits of orange hair and a mind to match. You could be a polar bear. Polar bears are one of the highly visible canaries of climate change. While they may never have been big singers in the first place, as their homes literally dissolve with each rising fahrenheit point, just like Donald the accidental president, their actions are singing out the tune of our future. Captured by Living Not Beige Film's Rick Davies in a new climate film called Ursula, the film deals with the polar bear's dilemma. Polar bears face a double challenge from climate change. Firstly, they rely on the sea ice to survive: to hunt and to travel. As the sea ice reduces, it means more time on land with less hunting opportunities and more chance of coming across humans.
Secondly, and perhaps the reduced seas ice means greater opportunity for human tourism. Greater human presence means more food, rubbish and more feet on the ground that the polar bears increasingly traverse. Contact between the two species must inevitably increase. Inquisitive, hungry polar bears and tour groups with guides who have guns which they are increasingly using, are not a great match.
The story opens with some establishing location images to clearly place the audience in the Arctic. As the broad observational images of the wildness unfold, the young female voice of Ursula proclaims the spectacular beauty of her home. Filmmaker, Rick Davies says, "IN THE FILM, IT MY DESIRE THAT THE AUDIENCE ASSOCIATE THAT VOICE WITH A YOUNG MEMBER OF THE HUMAN SPECIES. AS THE FILM OPENS & SEA ICE IMAGES MOVE ACROSS THE SCREEN, URSULA SPEAKS OF THE CHANGES, THE WARMING, THE LOSS OF THE SEA ICE. URSULA SPEAKS OF THE CHALLENGES OF FOOD. ABOUT NOW, MOST SHOULD REALISE SHE IS POLAR BEAR, NOT HUMAN." The images move from broad, distant sea-based views to the land. Looking across the land to the huge Ilulissat calving glacier, a few humans are seen walking on the distant skyline and the music twangs, announcing the presence of the upright animal inhabitant of the region.
The capture of two breaching whales on film was also a special moment and one where the music again changes in intensity. It was a very long distance shot in the very low light of the approaching dusk and, inexplicably, also captured two seal hunters on an iceberg in the distance with their kill. Man, is on the scene.The intensity of the music rises as the increasing presence of humans is revealed. And then Ursula speaks of the tourists. The music fades, and Ursula’s breath and heartbeat are heard. We are now in "live action" and set for the final chapter - “encounter”, which you will need to watch Ursula to discover.
Ursula tells the very real story of climate change from the perspective of someone losing their home, their livelihood and ultimately their very existence. The film humanises a polar bear's life in a way we can all understand. Ursula was made by Living Not Beige Films and made it to the top 10 films in Fleurieu Film Festival this year, and while it didn't win, it did come third in people's choice and more importantly, it brings a very poignant & personal message about the way out actions impact others. Like so many climate films, it is confronting, but the filmmakers hope this one reaches our empathy as fellow citizens of this planet to do more to keep it in better shape.
Rick Davies added "From the outset, the idea was of a point-of-view film where the main character is not seen (well, alive) but that felt as if it were a live action piece.”