Biologist Thomas Lovejoy surveys the devastation of the Brazilian Amazon (First Run Features)

Anyone up to speed with environmental history has read Aldo Leopold’s essay, within he describes killing a wolf and watching the “fierce green fire” fade from its eyes. This evocative and contemplative documentary, tracing the history of the environmental movement, states that one by one, others have had this same experience, and thus changed their lives to live more attune with the natural world and to preserve it.

Each of the film’s five acts is filled with historical film footage, interviews, stunning visuals and music (including a terrific use of protest songs). The first-hand remembrances, such as from Lois Gibbs, who worked to save families from the toxins at Love Canal, and Paul Watson of Greenpeace, who declared, “I work for whales,” are super powerful and a highlight.

Robert Redford, the quintessential nature documentary film narrator, surveys a history of the conservation movement from the early 20th century, when activists like Theodore Roosevelt sought to protect birds and their rookeries, to the controversies surrounding the building of dams—including Hetch Hetchy and Glen Canyon—to the impact of 20 million people participating in the first Earth Day in 1970.

The second act, narrated by Ashley Judd, examines the issue of pollution and takes account the use of the insecticide DDT, clean air and clean water legislation during the Nixon administration, Love Canal,  environmental racism, and the emergence of an environmental justice movement.

The ecology movement and counterculture dominate the third act, “Alternatives,” narrated by Van Jones. The Whole Earth Catalog (its author Steward Brand is one of the talking heads) urged people to do more with less and follow ideas of Buckminster Fuller and the concept of “spaceship earth,” the belief that the planet’s resources are limited and irreplaceable. Activists began to use the media and “dropping mind bombs,” actions meant to evoke public reaction, such as the filming of the bludgeoning of baby harp seals. These scenes, no matter how many times you seen them, still make you cringe and look away.

Author Isabel Allende, in act four, surveys a global look at environmental efforts, focusing on the ongoing fight to save the Amazon rainforest and the rights of indigenous people. The final section, narrated by Meryl Streep, tackles the problem impossible to ignore, and impossible to deal with—global warming. The political and financial aspects of this issue are colossal. Hurricanes, fires, heat waves, and melting sea ice fill the headlines and yet our government only offers words—not action.

As the film suggests, the solution will not be top down but a grassroots movement. It will come from the people who organize on the local level. Viewers of this documentary not only get a quick history lesson, but also an inspirational sermon. Voices of the past and present, vivid scenes of the natural world and man-made disasters, and an eloquent ending sequence (which surely will bring tears to the eyes of those viewing this on the big screen) are used dramatically in this well-edited, evenly paced film. Many viewers will find no new facts from watching this documentary, but they will get the much-needed kick in the pants to get up and do something, while there is still time.