It’s probably a lot more interesting than it sounds. Variety reports that Oscilloscope Labs have obtained the U.S. rights to Chasing Ice, a documentary from Jeff Orlowski that premiered at Sundance and is currently being screened at SXSW. The documentary follows James Balog, a photographer/scientist who, in 2007, set up cameras in a host of icy regions (Greenland and Alaska, to name a couple) to document the melting of glaciers over a three-year period.
Chasing Ice chronicles both the glaciers and Balog, whose devotion to his three year mission ended up taking a physical toll. The film will see a theatrical release later in the year to qualify for 2013’s Academy Awards, followed up by the usual DVD/on-demand home release. National Geographic already has the TV rights, having purchased them back at Sundance, so you can catch it for free soon enough.
Being the knuckledragger that I am, my initial reaction to Chasing Ice was one of apathy; glaciers are interesting and all when they’re destroying ocean liners, but a documentary about them? Feels like something I would’ve slept through in high school. But given that it won a cinematography award at Sundance — and there’s a good chance that Balog himself will be interesting — there’s a good chance my initial reaction could be way off-base. As usual. I should trust in Oscilloscope; they aren’t the types to pick up something that’s dull.
Have you seen Chasing Ice? Is it worth checking out?