After Antarctica

 After Antarctica is an incredible documentary about a team of scientists and explorers from six different countries who set out to traverse the continent of Antarctica by dog sled, the first time it had ever been done (in 1989). Happily I was too young to remember what had happened at the time - it was certainly in the news, and I was an avid news kid, but this missed me so the film kept me in great suspense. It's quite exciting. The expedition had hardships and scary moments. The men are all excellent teammates and seem to care about each other and their dogs. The camerawork is great and it's fascinating to go to this place that's almost an alien planet. They did it to draw attention to climate change and to get a treaty signed to ban mining etc. in Antarctica, keeping it preserved. All this time later, I think we know how the climate change part ended up. 

"After Antarctica" catches up with the leader of the expedition, Will Steger, who seems like a wonderful guy and very wise. The end part in the present day is pretty devastating, watching the warming and destruction of parts of Antarctica. He returns to see how it has changed and realizes his first-ever expedition record will.also be the last, because so many of the ice shelves he traveled on have disappeared. 

All that said, this documentary is never dreary or boring. It's fascinating. Quite a companion piece to Songs of Earth.

A brave expedition member takes a snow "shower."