Tom McCarthy’s ‘A Statement’ screens at New York Film Festival

Tom McCarthy’s new film, ‘A Statement’, is screening at the New York Film Festival. Based on Nathaniel Rich’s nonfiction book ‘Losing Earth’, the film recreates a multidisciplinary climate change policy meeting held in October 1980.

The narrative unfolds over 24 hours, set just days before Jimmy Carter lost the presidency to Ronald Reagan. Much of the film takes place within a single conference room, utilizing factual transcripts that are occasionally displayed on screen like subtitles to build its characters. The story explores the political and scientific tensions regarding rising carbon dioxide levels and the regulation of fossil fuels.

The film features a large ensemble cast, including Paul Rudd, Evan Peters, Amy Ryan, Paul Giamatti, John Turturro, Tatiana Maslany, and Jason Clarke. While much of the action is confined to the meeting, the film includes imaginative sequences set in other locations, such as a resort in St. Petersburg, Florida.