Welcome to...the movie version of "The Earth From Above" – "a journey all around the planet ... to help us understand her better". Yann Arthus-Bertrand, 63, is best known for his Unesco-sponsored Earth From Above project – a stunning collection of aerial photographs that have been enjoyed around the globe, either in the form of the humongous coffee-table book of the same name (three million sales and counting) or as a touring exhibition so far seen by more than 100 million people. After the opening of the first Earth From Above exhibition in Paris in 2000, Arthus-Bertrand continued to work as a stills photographer, but he also branched out into moving pictures. In 2003, he launched Six Billion Others – a hugely ambitious project, even by his standards, which saw teams of cameramen travel all over the world to record interviews with ordinary people. To date, more than 4,000 interviews have been filmed in more than 65 countries. He has also directed two series of documentaries, broadcast on the France 2 channel and syndicated worldwide, which look at the myriad environmental problems that are facing planet Earth. Arthus-Bertrand's magnum opus, however, is a film called HOME, which will be released on JUNE 5, 2009 to mark WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY. More than 15 years in the making and thanks to $10 million from François-Henri Pinault, the chief executive of French multinational PPR, which owns Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and the book and CD retailer Fnac, it will be free to anyone who wants to see it. In an unprecedented international movie event, Home will be shown on big screens around the world on 5 June, from the Eiffel Tower in Paris to Central Park in New York. The Edinburgh Filmhouse is getting in on the act too, with a not-for-profit screening at 6pm, followed by a discussion. Those without access to a public screening will be able to download the film for free from the Home website (www.home-2009.com). All told, Arthus-Bertrand hopes to reach "around 100 million people". |