Someplace with a Mountain (Steeve Goodall, 2011): U.S.A./Federal States of Micronesia

Reviewed by Linda Sweatt. Viewed at the 2011 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Metro four theatre.

This is a life and death situation right now!

Some Place with a Mountain has been nominated for the Social Justice Award for Documentary film by the Fund for Santa Barbara, awarded annually at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. I not only give this film my vote, I also give it five stars and wish it was required viewing for all Americans. As the U.S. is the leading contributor of global pollution it is truly a tragedy that far away in the tropical Pacific islands of  Micronesia live a very small tribe called the Lapita Navigators. Their entire island and way of  life is jeopardized by global warming, while they have had absolutely nothing to contribute to it. Their island is very low, without any mountains so trees are up rooted and crops destroyed as the sea level has risen five feet just in just the last five years. These islanders could possibly starve before they drown.

Meanwhile an American activist, sailor and now film maker, Steve Goodall happened upon these islands that had never had a western visitor. Incredibly their old traditional culture is preserved and alive today. This film’s format is similar to original documentary ‘The Nanook of the North’ by Robert Flaherty as Steve Goodall lived with the islanders and got to know them. In fact, he was able to make very good friends with the chief. It is beautiful, heartfelt and inspirational to witness how happy and at peace these natives are as they live in harmony with nature. They all work together in a simple life, no one is alone, no one goes hungry or without anything. Everyone is connected to each other and the ocean.

When Goodall saw how the sea level rise is affecting them he had the horrible job of bringing them the news of global warming and climate change. He had his lap top and showed them the film An Inconvenient Truth; they understood  because they are living it now. Goodall was immediately taken with their plight and feels a moral obligation to help, besides they asked him to. His first thought was to call National Geographic to come do a story on them and their situation, but he soon realized this would take too long, too ineffective as they need help right now. Amazingly he went into action. Not only did he begin filming himself  with a hand-held camera, but he also started on a plan to relocate the islanders.  He found the nearest big island, the island of Yap and looked for a site, finding land and talking to the island officials they have set forth a plan to relocate part of the village tribe here; but knowing allot of their traditions will be lost in the assimilation, he also found another private island he intends to buy for them. He said it feels really quite doable as the entire island only costs 5 million dollars (some houses in Santa Barbara sell for that) and he has set up a fund. In this way they can also relocate to an island with a mountain where they will be safe to continue living in their old ways.

Allot of people are getting on board, Chevy Chase was happy to help by narrating the film. In today’s world it is overwhelming to stay informed about the depressing current events, refreshingly Some Place with a Mountain offers hope and solutions from the doom and gloom. In conclusion I highly recommend seeing this film, but as that might not be possible for awhile you can go on the official website: http://www.apuur.org/Apuur._org/HOME.html and see for yourself a message to President Obama from Rapui master Navigator from the island of Puluwat.  The urgencie is real, Gloodall fears that while he is away promoting this filma, a big storm could come and flood the iland. I encourage all to get involved and participate in making this dream become a reality! I truly admire the integrity and ambitions of Steve Goodall and I believe they will succeed.