The article reflects on the challenges of advocating for the environment amidst a chaotic news cycle, inspired by the French documentary “7 Walks with Mark Brown.” The film features botanist Mark Brown and a crew hiking through different parts of Normandy, presenting their interactions with seemingly ordinary landscapes. Initially, the expectation is for a traditional, emotional environmental storytelling, reminiscent of artist Joe Brown’s evocative nature sketches and Angela Manno’s endangered species icons.
However, the film’s first half offers little in terms of seduction or awe, highlighting ordinary terrain as Brown and his team engage with the environment. Their calm demeanor and genuine reactions are contrasted with the mundane setting, raising questions about the film’s purpose. As the film progresses, the second half presents close-up shots of plants, emphasizing their beauty and uniqueness, which unexpectedly moves the viewer. This shift reveals the effectiveness of the filmmakers’ approach, as viewers learn to appreciate the subtle wonders of nature without initial embellishments.
The article concludes by asserting that environmental awareness can emerge from even the simplest surroundings, encouraging a deeper curiosity and appreciation for the world around us—an appreciation that extends beyond the iconic or picturesque to the everyday and ordinary. The richness of creation, it suggests, is often found in one’s own backyard rather than just in the grand or aesthetically pleasing.
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