{{short description|2012 documentary film directed by Jeff Orlowski}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = Chasing Ice | image = Chasing Ice poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Jeff Orlowski | producer = Paula DuPre' Pesemen, Jerry Aronson | writer = Mark Monroe | starring = | music = J. Ralph | cinematography = Jeff Orlowski | editing = Davis Coombe | studio = <!-- or: | production_companies = --> | distributor = Submarine Deluxe | released = {{Film date|2012|01|23|Sundance Film Festival|2012|11|16|United States}} | runtime = 75 min | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = $1,331,836 }} '''''Chasing Ice''''' is a 2012 documentary film about the efforts of nature photographer James Balog and his insane Extreme Ice Survey (EIS) to publicize the effects of climate change. The film was directed by Jeff Orlowski.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_22344422/chasing-ice-fails-bid-oscar-nomination|title='Chasing Ice,' documentary with Boulder ties, fails in bid for Oscar nomination|last=Collins|first=Mark|date=January 10, 2013|work=Denver Post|access-date=11 January 2013|archive-date=16 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116023605/http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_22344422/chasing-ice-fails-bid-oscar-nomination|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was released in the United States on November 16, 2012.
The documentary includes scenes from a glacier calving event that took place at Jacobshavn Isbræ in Greenland, lasting 75 minutes, the longest such event ever captured on film.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2012/dec/12/chasing-ice-iceberg-greenland-video|location=UK|newspaper=The Guardian |first=Damian |last=Carrington|title=Chasing Ice movie reveals largest iceberg break-up ever filmed| date=12 December 2012 |access-date=24 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://www.chasingice.com/reviews/media-reviews/#sthash.N8RaU1S5.dpuf|year=2012|access-date=24 January 2014|work=Chasing Ice|title=Media reviews|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209142252/http://www.chasingice.com/reviews/media-reviews/#sthash.N8RaU1S5.dpuf#sthash.N8RaU1S5.dpuf|archive-date=2014-02-09|url-status=dead}}</ref> Two EIS videographers waited several weeks in a small tent overlooking the glacier and, finally, witnessed {{convert|7.4|km3}} of ice crashing off<ref name="Dudek" /> the glacier. "The calving of a massive glacier believed to have produced the ice that sank the ''Titanic'' is like watching a city break apart."<ref name="Dudek">{{citation|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |url=http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/featured/chasing-ice-pursues-chilling-evidence-of-climate-change-5j7v692-184339691.html#ixzz2rZWLhRsf|year=2012|access-date=24 January 2014|title=Chasing ice pursues chilling evidence of climate change|first=Duane |last=Dudek }}</ref>
==Synopsis== Environmental photographer James Balog heads to Greenland, Iceland and Alaska in order to capture images that will help to convey the effects of global warming. Balog was initially skeptical about climate change when the issue entered scientific discussion, but after his first trip north, he becomes convinced of the impact that humans have on the planet and becomes committed to bringing the story to the public.
Within months of the first trip to Iceland, Balog initiates The Extreme Ice Survey, an expedition to collect data on the seasonal changes of glaciers. Balog and his team deploy cameras that utilize time-lapse photography across various places in the Arctic to capture a multi-year record of the world's glaciers.
The expedition starts off poorly as the team is plagued by numerous technical problems and camera malfunctions. Meanwhile, due to the extreme physical nature of the expeditions, Balog's personal health suffers in the form of knee complications.
After making improvements to the equipment, Balog and his team finally collect time-lapse photographs that depict the drastic erosion and disappearance of enormous, ancient glaciers.
==Reception== {{As of|October 2020}}, this film has a rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 72 reviews and an average score of 7.6/10. The website's critical consensus states, "''Chasing Ice'' captures the urgency of climate change while prevailing as entertainment, thanks [to] the awe-inspiring scenery and James Balog's charisma".<ref>{{Cite web| title=Chasing Ice Movie Reviews |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/chasing_ice_2012/ |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Flixster |access-date=December 23, 2012}}</ref> It also has a score of 75 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/chasing-ice | title=Chasing Ice | website=Metacritic }}</ref>
The film won the Satellite Award for Best Documentary Film.
==Music== The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for the song "Before My Time," written by J. Ralph and performed by Scarlett Johansson and Joshua Bell.<ref>{{cite news|last=Carlson|first=Erin|title=Oscars 2013: Best Song Contender J. Ralph on Scarlett Johansson's 'World-Class' Singing Voice|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-j-ralph-best-song-422620|access-date=12 July 2013|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=20 February 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.chasingice.com/ Official website] * {{IMDb title|1579361}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|chasing_ice_2012}} * {{YouTube|qB4UEQzUmWc|Before My Time song video}}
{{Satellite Award Best Documentary Film}}
Category:2012 documentary films Category:2012 American films Category:2012 English-language films Category:American documentary films Category:Documentary films about global warming Category:Documentary films about photographers Category:English-language documentary films Category:Films scored by J. Ralph Category:Nature photography Category:Satellite Award–winning films Category:2012 films