L'Alliance Montclair Campus: "Whale Nation"(@ Montclair Public Library)

Dir. Jean-Albert Lievre, 2023, France, 82min, DCP
Narrated by Jean Dujardin
In French with English subtitles

Recommended for ages 6+

In this stunning documentary, director Jean-Albert Lièvre follows the plight of a beached humpback whale through dual perspectives—a young girl and the whale itself. The narrative unfolds alongside interviews with myriad experts and incredible underwater footage of whales in their natural environment, emphasizing the intelligence, community, and ecological role of these gentle giants—and the toll that humans take on them. Both a poetic homage to Heathcote Williams’ book Whale Nation and a rallying cry, urging viewers to consider the effects of their actions, both big and small, positive and negative.

This screening is part of L’Alliance New York’s Climate Month programming.