Inspiring Documentaries
Must-Watch Documentaries about Our Planet: Stories that Inspire and Educate
In our journey to reconnect with nature, some remarkable pioneers have illuminated the path, showing us the beauty, resilience, and urgency of preserving the world around us. Through their lenses, we find hope, humanity, and inspiration to take action. At ZIRAN, we’ve curated a list of must-watch documentaries that celebrate these extraordinary stories.
Whether you’re looking for awe-inspiring visuals, thought-provoking insights, or a deeper understanding of our relationship with nature, these documentaries provide a window into the challenges and triumphs of environmental stewardship. Let these films inspire you to reflect, learn, and take meaningful steps toward a sustainable future.
Attenborough's Life Journey | PBS NATURE Documentary
premieres on 11/20/2024, TV-PG, 53m 3s
For over 65 years, Sir David Attenborough has inspired generations as the beloved voice of the natural world, making complex issues relatable and deepening our connection to nature. From a curious boyhood fossil hunter to the world’s foremost natural history presenter, his remarkable career has left a legacy of awe, understanding, and hope.
Full film link:
https://www.pbs.org/video/attenboroughs-life-journey-z2tyb3/
A Life on Our Planet
2020, PG, 1h 23m
In this documentary, David Attenborough, the celebrated naturalist, reflects upon both the defining moments of his lifetime and the devastating changes he has seen. The film provides a snapshot of global nature loss in a single lifetime.
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Jane Goodall: The Hope
2020, TV-14, 1hr 28m
David Attenborough and scientist Johan Rockström examine Earth's biodiversity collapse and how this crisis can still be averted.
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The Hidden Life of Trees (Das geheime Leben der Bäume)
2021, PG, 1h 24m
Based on the bestselling book, German forester Peter Wohlleben shows us how trees communicate with each other and the world in this enlightening documentary.
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B09HCXZ1TF/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r
What Was The First Fungus?
2022, G , 62 min
Discover the groundbreaking research that sheds light on the evolutionary history of fungi, dating back billions of years. Join renowned scientists as they unravel the mysteries of these fascinating organisms and their vital role in shaping our planet.
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Gather
2020, TV-14, language, 1hr 14m
GATHER tells the story of the rebuilding of Native food systems, offering an intimate portrait of the intentional destruction of Native American foodways and the resilience and renaissance to reclaim them as an inherent right. This powerful documentary explores Indigenous American movements that strive to rediscover identity and reclaim sovereignty through ancestral foods, highlighting a profound journey of cultural revival and resilience.
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Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet
2021, TV-PG, gore, language, 1hr 14m
This documentary follows the relentless journey of an inspirational activist and leader, showcasing her steadfast dedication to spreading hope. It provides an intimate view of Goodall’s transformative shift from scientist to passionate activist, illustrating how she is empowering the next generation to create lasting change.
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Full film link:
https://www.disneyplus.com/en-gb/browse/entity-988f17d0-f53b-41fc-9d9a-944f42deaae2
Jane
2017, PG, 1h 30m
Drawing from over 100 hours of never-before-seen footage that has been tucked away in the National Geographic archives for over 50 years, award-winning director Brett Morgen tells the story of JANE, a woman whose chimpanzee research challenged the male-dominated scientific consensus of her time and revolutionized our understanding of the natural world. Set to a rich orchestral score from legendary composer Philip Glass, the film offers an unprecedented, intimate portrait of Jane Goodall — a trailblazer who defied the odds to become one of the world’s most admired conservationists.
Trailer:
https://films.nationalgeographic.com/jane-the-movie#watch-the-trailer
Full film link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3b6zSpy7P4
https://www.disneyplus.com/en-gb/browse/entity-30a55249-bbe2-47bd-83bd-0aac663793fd
My Octopus Teacher
2020, TV-G, 1h 25m
The multi-award-winning film, including the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, My Octopus Teacher, follows Craig Foster’s year with a wild octopus. Seeking purpose, Foster began daily dives in South Africa’s freezing kelp forests, where he encountered an unusually curious octopus. This rare, intimate record of an animal’s full life cycle explores the habits and personality of a creature most of us have only ever seen on a plate. Brimming with danger, drama, and emotion, the film offers a stunning portrait of human-animal connection, immersing viewers in a world of colors and textures like never before.
The film was made possible by the Sea Change Project, a nonprofit environmental storytelling organization founded in 2012.
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2040
2019, NR, 1h 32m (Rated age 8+ at Common Sense Media)
Award-winning director Damon Gameau (That Sugar Film) embarks on a journey to explore what the future could look like by the year 2040 if we embraced the solutions already available to us to improve our planet. Structured as a letter to his daughter, Damon blends documentary with dramatised sequences and high-end visual effects to create a vision of how these solutions could regenerate the world.
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Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story
2014, PG, 1h 15m
The award-winning documentary Just Eat It follows filmmakers and food lovers Jenny and Grant as they explore the issue of food waste, uncovering wasteful practices from farms and retailers to the forgotten corners of their own fridge. Determined to make a difference, they commit to living solely off discarded food for six months, exposing society’s obsession with expiry dates, perfect produce, and portion sizes. Both funny and thought-provoking, the film features interviews with activist Tristram Stuart and author Jonathan Bloom, challenging audiences to rethink their food habits and view their fridges in a whole new light.
In the U.S., up to 40% of food is wasted, while in 2023, 8.4% (11.2 million) of households experienced low food security. Food waste also accounts for 6-8% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions—an imbalance we can’t afford to ignore. How can we take steps to end this shocking disparity?
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