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Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie

Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie

Sturla Gunnarsson

  • Country: Canada
  • Year: 2009
  • Language: English
  • Producer: Janice Tufford, Sturla Gunnarsson, Yves J. Ma
  • Executive Producer: Laszlo Barna, Steven Silver, Tracey Friesen
  • Runtime: 93
  • Programmes:

At seventy-five years old, David Suzuki shows no signs of slowing down. In this captivating documentary portrait, the passionate environmentalist's legacy lecture is entwined with candid interviews in which he reflects on his life and shares deeply personal stories, revealing a side previously unseen.

Canada,  Environment,  Documentary,  Biography,  Japan

screening times

    • Saturday September 11
    • 3:00:00 PM
    • RYERSON
    • Sunday September 12
    • 3:45:00 PM
    • AMC 3

Note: indicates Premium Screening.

official description

David Suzuki holds twenty-four honorary degrees from academic institutions around the world and has written forty-eight books. A household name synonymous with nature and science, he was voted one of the top ten greatest Canadians of all time in 2004, ranking ahead of Wayne Gretzky and Sir John A. Macdonald. He is best known as the host of the long-running CBC TV show The Nature of Things and as a pioneering and passionate environmentalist. At the age of seventy-five, he shows no signs of slowing down.

By all measures David Suzuki is extraordinary, and you can't help but wish that everyone cared about the earth as much as he does. But what drove him to become the phenomenon he is? This engrossing documentary guides us through his life and reveals the key events and people that shaped him.

The occasion for the film is Suzuki’s return to the University of British Columbia to deliver his legacy lecture to a sold-out audience. Director Sturla Gunnarsson interweaves Suzuki's stirring and insightful address with candid interviews to create a captivating portrait. It is in these interviews that Suzuki shares his deeply personal reflections and stories, revealing a side of him previously unseen.

Most memorable is his painful recollection of the attack on Pearl Harbor that led to the forced relocation of his Canadian-born family from their home to a British Columbia internment camp for Japanese Canadians. The humiliation suffered by his family, particularly his father, during this dark time in Canadian history sheds light on the values and priorities that propelled Suzuki to the top of his field.

Suzuki is by turns touching and funny and, above all, endlessly engaging. His powerful words and inspiring life epitomize his commitment to making science vital and accessible to everyone. Gunnarsson’s film is certain to make you reconsider how we live.

Agata Smoluch Del Sorbo

Fundraising Gala
You are invited to walk down the “green carpet” and celebrate the life and legacy of one of our most inspiring Canadians, Dr. David Suzuki.

A special eco-friendly fundraising gala will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel on Friday September 10th in honour of the 20th anniversary of the David Suzuki Foundation, one of Canada’s leading environmental organizations. TIFF is a proud supporter of the gala.

Comedian Russell Peters and broadcaster George Stroumboulopoulos will act as co-hosts for an evening that promises to be filled with laughs, music, and tributes to Dr. Suzuki and the David Suzuki Foundation. Celebrity Chef Susur Lee will prepare a special locavore menu and Stephen Lewis, Ed Begley Jr, Andrew Ference, Adam Van Koeverdon and Gordon Lightfoot are just a few of the other celebrities who have confirmed they will help toast Dr. Suzuki’s achievements.

For more information or to purchase tickets please go to legacygala.ca.

director bio

Sturla Gunnarsson was born in Reykjavik and raised in Vancouver. His documentaries and feature films have screened internationally and won numerous awards. After the Axe (81) was nominated for an Academy Award® for best documentary feature; Final Offer (85) won a Genie Award for best documentary feature; and Gerri & Louise (97) won the Donald Brittain Award for best social/political documentary at the 1998 Gemini Awards. His feature fiction films include Diplomatic Immunity (91), Such a Long Journey (98), which was nominated for twelve Genies and won three, Rare Birds (01), Beowulf & Grendel (05) and Force of Nature: Suzuki (10).

full credits

Principal Cast: David Suzuki
Producer: Janice Tufford, Sturla Gunnarsson, Yves J. Ma
Executive Producer: Laszlo Barna, Steven Silver, Tracey Friesen
Cinematographer: Tony Westman
Editor: Nick Hector
Production Designer: Dany Lyne (Chan Lecture)

Canadian Distributor: eOne Films  
International Sales Agent: Entertainment One Films International, National Film Board of Canada
Production Company: Legacy Lecture Productions Ltd./National Film Board of Canada (English Program)
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