Yann Arthus-Bertrand & Edward Norton Make the Case for Saving Our Forests in a Gorgeous Short Film

By
Alex Davies
Writer
  • Macalester College
Alex Davies is a technology journalist and the author of "Driven," an upcoming book about the self-driving car industry.
our editorial process
Alex Davies
Updated October 11, 2018
of forests and men yann arthus bertrand edward norton
Video screen capture. Of Forests and Men

Of Forests and Men/Video screen capture

You may not have realized it, but 2011 is the International Year of the Forest. We've discussed the threat of deforestation plenty on TreeHugger, but rarely do we find our points so well made, and accompanied by such a beautiful background, as in this film from Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Edward Norton narrates Of Forests and Men, the official film for the International Year of Forests that will make you want to get leave the computer and go save a tree yourself.

of forests and men yann arthus-bertrand edward norton

Of Forests and Men/Video screen captureArthus-Bertrand, the French photographer and filmmaker who made Home, a film of aerial photography, and Norton who loves the High Line and hates shark finning, make a dynamic duo. The film, about seven minutes long, lays out facts and statistics that come down to this: We and many other species depend on forests for survival. Yet we are destroying them at unprecedented and unsustainable levels. Nonetheless, there is hope.

of forests and men yann arthus-bertrand edward norton

Of Forests and Men/Video screen capture

This thesis is driven home by Arthus-Bertrand astounding shots of forests around the globe. See for yourself: