Parents' Guide to

180 Degrees South

By Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Eco-minded travel docu inspires serious wanderlust.

Movie PG 2010 85 minutes
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If you don't have a serious case of wanderlust before 180 DEGREES SOUTH, you will afterward. Even if the high-adventure approach is not your thing (that's a whole lot of equipment to carry by yourself up a mountainside!) the scenery is breathtaking. And the tidbits of wisdom on what people get out of travel will take you to a higher plain, imagining days of solitude, journal-writing, and reflection.

It's actually a little disappointing that the film doesn't stay in this lofty headspace, but adding an eco-message in a place like Patagonia definitely makes sense. When viewers meet Chileans who talk directly of the impact of dams, pulp mills, and commercial fishing, that heartfelt approach works best. It's the shaming of city folk for their overconsumerism that feels a bit like they're reaching for an easy stereotype. If you feel lectured at you can quickly take solace in whatever adventure Jeff finds next. The surfing spots alone are to die for.

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