Tom McCarthy’s ‘A Statement’ dramatizes 1980 climate conference

Tom McCarthy’s new film, ‘A Statement’, explores the origins of the modern climate crisis by dramatizing a 1980 conference held in St. Petersburg, Florida. The film depicts a group of scientists, activists, lawyers, and policymakers convened by the U.S. government to address the environmental dangers of carbon dioxide emissions.

Based on the book ‘Losing Earth: A Recent History’ by Nathaniel Rich, the screenplay utilizes actual conference transcripts to drive much of the dialogue. The production features an ensemble cast including Paul Rudd, Paul Giamatti, and Tatiana Maslany, focusing on the human efforts and civil discourse involved in attempting to draft a formal response to global warming.