Directed by Sturla Gunnarsson
When scientist/educator/environmentalist David Suzuki delivered what was billed as his “legacy lecture” to a packed house at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 2009, enthusiastic viewers got a trip down memory lane. Now his dissertation on caring for the environment is available to the rest of us.
Suzuki’s presentation about mankind’s relationship with the environment (and, as he reminds us, it’s not necessarily a mutually beneficial liaison) is interjected with stories of pivotal points in his life. We visit the camp where a young Suzuki and his family were interned after being expelled from their British Columbia home during World War II. He talks about being the only non-white family in Leamington, Ontario, during his teen years, and how teen frustrations and not being able to date out of his race pushed him into the nearby swamps. In classic Suzuki glass-half-full fashion, it ultimately led to his love of insects and other squirmies that became his life’s work.
Much of the film used to illustrate Suzuki’s flashbacks is stock footage—a bit distracting at times—until the late 1960s, when he landed in the genetics lab at UBC. As the present-day Suzuki reminisces about those early days, it’s obvious he’s still very much in love with the little critters that dominated much of his career. And just in case this really is his last lecture, he’s established the David Suzuki Foundation to expand on his work of conserving the environment (through education and advocacy) and being a catalyst for change.
Perhaps as a byproduct of abundant time spent with bugs and microscopes, Suzuki’s manner in recounting his life story, with only one exception, is entertaining but distant. He’s a good storyteller, but the emotion is missing, so while this may be a loving tribute for those who know the man, to those who don’t know him, it’s an intriguing but sometimes draggy introduction to his brilliant mind. However, it’s definitely clear to all that at 75, Suzuki has enough life and curiosity for many years to come. Maybe it’s too soon to call this his “legacy.”
—Jacquelin Sonderling
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~ Film: Pipe Dreams — The Keystone pipeline project
