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Parents' Guide to

Chasing Ice

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Beautiful, affecting documentary about glacier retreat.

Movie PG-13 2013 74 minutes
Chasing Ice Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 9+

Based on 2 parent reviews

SierraAmie
SierraAmie Parent of 7-year-old
April 21, 2015
age 7+

Phenomenal documentary with powerful visuals for kids

This is one of my all-time favorite documentaries mainly because of the cutting edge cinematography - footage never before taken of glaciers moving and ice sheets calving. I showed it to my daughter for these images plus the stunning images of ice and icebergs and frozen landscapes and the fascinating story of the mountaineers placing and maintaining their cameras in crazy landscapes, but I ended up talking with my daughter about the science and discoveries related to climate change that the movie was intended to present in the first place. She was only 6 or 7 when I showed it to her and with a lot of movie pausing and talking, she got a lot out of it. I think it helped her to understand global warming in a more tangible way and she has a much deeper appreciation for the concept and our human relationship to it, which affects how she wants to live her life, essentially having more of a motivation to care about her impact on the planet. I do not think this movie needs to be avoided for younger kids at all as there is nothing offensive or scary in it. At a bare minimum, it will be one of the most amazing documentaries about our planet they will have seen.
CSM Screen name 1578376
CSM Screen name 1578376 Adult
June 8, 2014
age 10+

Chasing Ice: Ok?

I believe that Chasing Ice is good for kids 11 and up. The reason for this is in the movie some people curse when they get upset. There are also some intense scenes where they are in difficult life/death situations.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

CHASING ICE chronicles the arduous work of National Geographic photographer James Balog and his team to document the decline of some of the world's most massive glaciers in Greenland and Alaska. As the debate over global warming rages, the world's glaciers are shrinking at a rapid rate, leaving rivers and rising water levels in their wake. Using a series of cutting-edge automated cameras positioned around vulnerable areas, Balog's Extreme Ice Survey creates time-lapse evidence of the retreat of these ancient ice masses.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (4 ):

Whatever your stance on the climate change debate, this stellar documentary is well worth watching, and Balog's passion for his life's work is inspiring. The film devotes more time to following the ups and downs of Balog's quest than it does to lecturing viewers on the dangers of fossil fuels, but its ultimate message is clear: Global warming is causing glaciers to disappear at a frightening rate, and the effects on the world's population could be devastating. He makes a firm case for his claims, presenting remarkable photographic evidence of ice masses -- some nearly as large as Manhattan -- succumbing to the elements and being lost forever to the sea.

Chances are your kids won't find Chasing Ice's subject matter particularly fascinating unless they have some familiarity with the issues already, but the opposite is true for older viewers. You'll come away from it thinking hard about the environmental issues that plague our planet and our role in maintaining its well-being for generations to come, which can spark great discussions and possibly take-action projects within your family and community.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about climate change and other environmental issues. Balog presents one side of the argument in Chasing Ice, but what is the other? On which side of the fence do you fall? Can you find fault with any of the subjects' findings?

  • Explore the nature of propaganda. Who uses it and for what purpose? Is any information that we get through media sources entirely reliable? Why or why not?

  • What small changes can your family make to be more environmentally conscious? What kind of an impact would it have if your community got on board as well? Is this something the government should mandate?

  • How does Chasing Ice promote courage, curiosity, and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

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