Guardians of Our Planet 《守護我們的星球》

Yesterday, I went to see director Shumenlan's "Guardians of Our Planet." During the end credits, the scene of the director getting seasick and vomiting made me admire her perseverance even more.

A Call from the Poles

Have you ever wondered how life persists with such resilience in the ice-covered polar regions? Have you ever imagined that seemingly eternal expanse of white silently sending out a distress call?

"Guardians of Our Planet," directed by renowned Taiwanese ecological documentary filmmaker Shumenlan, is precisely such a moving work that takes us deep into the Earth's two poles, directly witnessing precious natural wonders and the fragile state of the ecosystem.

Director Shumenlan, a female filmmaker who has long focused on environmental issues and used her lens to record the beauty of Taiwan, often imbues her works with humanistic care and a deep affection for the land.

She has led her team to the far corners of Taiwan, capturing ecological stories that are easily overlooked yet critically important. "Guardians of Our Planet" marks her shift in focus to the more distant and challenging polar regions, hoping to use the power of imagery to awaken people's awareness of global climate change.

The initial inspiration for this documentary stemmed from Director Shumenlan's concern about the worsening ecological environment in the polar regions.

The impact of global warming is particularly pronounced in the poles, with issues such as glacier melting, sea-level rise, and frequent extreme weather not only threatening the unique creatures living there but also affecting the overall ecological balance of the Earth.

Director Shumenlan hopes to truthfully present the magnificence and fragility of the polar regions through her lens, allowing viewers to witness firsthand the impact of climate change and thereby inspire deeper reflection and action.

In "Guardians of Our Planet," viewers will follow Director Shumenlan's footsteps, traversing the frozen Arctic and the frigid Antarctic, taking in breathtaking natural landscapes. In the Arctic, we will see boundless ice plains, crystal-clear icebergs, and animals such as polar bears, seals, and Arctic foxes surviving in harsh environments.

The camera captures precious moments of them foraging for food and raising their young, while also recording the threat that melting ice poses to their habitats.

In Antarctica, we will witness even more majestic glaciers, towering snow-capped mountains, and the adorable penguins, graceful whales, and agile seals that call the region home. The film delicately portrays their survival wisdom in adapting to extreme climates and also presents the challenges to their existence posed by ocean acidification and the decline in krill populations. Under Director Shumenlan's lens, these magnificent icy landscapes and vibrant animal world appear both beautiful and heartbreaking.

So, why is "Guardians of Our Planet" such an important film?

Firstly, it offers a rare perspective, allowing us to get close to the distant polar regions. For most people, the poles are mysterious and unreachable territories. This documentary, through its stunning visuals, breaks down geographical barriers, allowing us to experience the magnificence and vitality of the poles firsthand.

Secondly, it uses real images to document the impact of climate change on the polar ecosystem. Data and reports often fail to touch people's hearts, but when we personally witness the melting of glaciers and the loss of animal habitats, the shock and awakening are unparalleled. The film presents the facts from an objective standpoint, guiding viewers to consider the impact of human activities on the Earth.

Furthermore, it awakens our sense of responsibility for the Earth's shared destiny. Changes in the polar ecosystem are not isolated events; they are closely related to global climate and will ultimately affect every life on Earth. Through this film, we can better understand the importance of protecting the polar regions and the role each of us plays in mitigating climate change.

Finally, it showcases Director Shumenlan's passion and dedication to environmental issues. With a uniquely feminine sensitivity and resilience, she overcame numerous difficulties to bring these precious images before us. Her efforts and dedication are themselves an inspiration, encouraging more people to pay attention to and get involved in environmental protection.

"Guardians of Our Planet" is not just a documentary; it is a call from the two ends of the Earth, a profound allegory about life and the environment. It reminds us that the Earth is an interdependent ecosystem, and changes in any corner can affect the whole. Let us follow Director Shumenlan's lens, listen attentively to the pulse of the polar regions, and transform this emotion into practical action, working together to protect our only planet.

昨天去看了舒夢蘭導演的《守護我們的星球》。

片尾花絮中，導演暈船嘔吐的畫面，讓我更加敬佩她的努力不懈。

一封來自極地的呼喚

你是否曾好奇，在冰雪覆蓋的極地，生命以何種堅韌的姿態存在？你是否曾想像，那片看似永恆的純白，正悄悄地發出無聲的求救？由台灣知名生態紀錄片導演舒夢蘭所執導的《守護我們的星球》，正是這樣一部帶領我們深入地球兩端，直擊珍貴自然奇觀與脆弱生態現況的動人之作。

舒夢蘭導演，一位長期關注環境議題並以鏡頭記錄台灣之美的女性導演，其作品往往充滿人文關懷與對土地的深厚情感。她曾帶領團隊深入台灣各個角落，捕捉那些容易被忽略卻至關重要的生態故事。《守護我們的星球》則是她將視野投向更遙遠、更具挑戰性的極地地區，希望透過影像的力量，喚起人們對全球環境變遷的重視。

這部紀錄片的發想初衷，源於舒夢蘭導演對極地生態環境日益惡化的憂心。全球暖化對極地的影響尤為顯著，冰川融化、海平面上升、極端氣候頻繁等問題，不僅威脅著生活在那裡的獨特生物，更牽動著地球整體的生態平衡。舒夢蘭導演希望透過鏡頭，真實呈現極地的壯麗與脆弱，讓觀眾親眼見證氣候變遷帶來的衝擊，進而激發更深層的思考與行動。

在《守護我們的星球》中，觀眾將跟隨舒夢蘭導演的腳步，穿越冰封的北極與寒冷的南極，飽覽令人屏息的自然景觀。在北極，我們將看到一望無際的冰原、晶瑩剔透的冰山，以及在嚴酷環境下生存的北極熊、海豹、北極狐等動物。鏡頭捕捉牠們覓食、哺育後代的珍貴畫面，也記錄下冰層消融對牠們棲息地造成的威脅。

而在南極，我們將見證更加磅礴的冰川、巍峨的雪山，以及憨態可掬的企鵝、優雅的鯨魚、靈活的海豹等極地居民。影片細膩地描繪了牠們適應極端氣候的生存智慧，也呈現了海洋酸化、磷蝦減少等問題對牠們生存帶來的挑戰。那些壯麗的冰雪風光與生機勃勃的動物世界，在舒夢蘭導演的鏡頭下，顯得既美麗又令人心疼。

那麼，為什麼《守護我們的星球》這部電影如此重要？

首先，它提供了一個難能可貴的視角，讓我們得以親近遙遠的極地。 對於大多數人而言，極地是既神秘又遙不可及的地域。這部紀錄片透過震撼的影像，打破了地理上的隔閡，讓我們能夠身臨其境地感受極地的壯麗與生機。

其次，它以真實的影像記錄了氣候變遷對極地生態造成的影響。 數據和報告往往難以觸動人心，但當我們親眼看到冰川的消融、動物棲息地的喪失，那份震撼與警醒是無與倫比的。影片以客觀的視角呈現事實，引導觀眾思考人類活動對地球造成的影響。

再者，它喚起了我們對地球共同命運的責任感。 極地生態的變化並非 isolated 的事件，它與全球氣候息息相關，最終將影響到地球上的每一個生命。透過這部電影，我們更能理解保護極地的重要性，以及每個人在減緩氣候變遷中扮演的角色。

最後，它展現了舒夢蘭導演對環境議題的熱忱與堅持。 她以女性獨有的細膩與堅韌，克服重重困難，將這些珍貴的影像帶到我們面前。她的努力與付出，本身就是一種鼓舞，激勵更多人關注並投入到環境保護的行列中。

《守護我們的星球》不僅僅是一部紀錄片，更是一封來自地球兩端的呼喚，一則關於生命與環境的深刻寓言。它提醒我們，地球是一個相互依存的生態系統，任何一個角落的改變，都可能牽動全局。讓我們跟隨舒夢蘭導演的鏡頭，用心感受極地的脈動，並將這份感動轉化為實際行動，共同守護我們唯一的星球。

Article From: Bruno Huang / BLACK Frames.

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