Environment

Oxygen levels increase during growth of Boreal Forest

by jessica.lam | October 6, 2008 at 01:57 pm

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It's the time of year when the people of Vancouver get to bust out their inner movie critic. My first shot at critiquing at this annual film frenzy came last week when I watched "Borealis" by director Frank Wolf.

The movie follows Frank Wolf and his companion Taku Hokoyama on a 3100 km canoe voyage through the Boreal forest from Manitoba to Ontario.

Their 75-day odyssey provides the context for an intimate look into the current environmental and social issues facing the region and its people. Tightly shot action sequences, humour, and the voices of those who live on the frontlines of the Boreal make this a unique film in the adventure genre.

It is truly a fun adventure piece with plenty to think about.

Frank manages to make sure the story of the Boreal forest is told. Walking out of the theater I could not help but marvel at this one poignant fact:

Locked up in the Boreal forests are vast amounts of carbon, and their biomass is so huge and so vital that when they are in their maximum growth phase during the northern spring and summer, the worldwide levels of carbon dioxide fall and the worldwide levels of oxygen rise.

Incredible. For the facts and for the fun.

Vancouver International Film Festival

Special scenes from the film.

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Yuliya Talmazan

at 14:11 on October 6th, 2008

Yeah, if it were not for the Boreal forests, we would all be chocking up on our own exhaust fumes now. And, I have yet to check out VIFF. Thanks for the reminder.