Sun Come Up
Papua New Guinea is already facing the impacts of climate change, with rising sea levels forcing people to move from their traditional homes. Documentary filmmakers Jennifer Redfearn & Tim Metzger have begun production of a new film “Sun Come Up” that follows a group of young families from the Carteret Islands in search of new homes on Bougainville, a mountainous island 50 miles away.
The Carteret Islanders stand at the front lines of climate change. Small island communities like the Carterets have contributed very little to global warming, but they’re suffering the devastating consequences right now. Rising seas contaminate their fresh water and gardening land, erode shorelines and climate change contributes to severe and unpredictable weather. As their beloved homeland disappears into the sea, the islanders fear they will lose their close-knit community, culture, and ancestral past.
In order to raise money to finish the production of the film, Jennifer and Tim are pre-selling the DVDs for US$25 each via the Kickstarter website. If you’ve ever wanted to get your name in the credits of a film, this is your chance.
Sun Come Up follows a group of young families from the Carteret Islands in search of new homes on Bougainville, a mountainous island 50 miles away. Plans are underway for them to leave, but the move will not be easy as Bougainville itself is recovering from a brutal 10-year civil war. Our film shows the human side of climate change and the difficulties in relocating whole communities. Though the islanders face tragic circumstances, it isn’t a familiar third world narrative about a downtrodden poor people. Sun Come Up shows the islanders forging ahead in the face of adversity to determine their own fate.
Carbon Planet has been working with film-makers since its inception, and has had a long involvement in documentary films. Carbon Planet has also been working in and around Papua New Guinea for some years, helping local communities to derive a possible revenue source by maintaining their forests, rather than allowing them to be destroyed for quick profits. Although we have no direct involvement in ‘Sun Come Up’ it looks like a timely and worthy production and I urge you to support this film. — DS