Hot Docs 2009

4 Elements is an evocative meditation on mankind's timeless connection to the natural world. The fundamental elements that make human life possible structure the film into four chapters: fire, water, earth and air. Fire documents the efforts of a Siberian "smokejumper" camp; Water follows a king crab fishing expedition in Alaska; Earth travels into the deep to shadow miners in Germany; and Air shows space shuttle preparations in Russia and Kazakhstan. Gorgeous cinematography and a fly-on-the-wall perspective provide an elegant demonstration of paradox and interdependence, not only between the four elements but also in our human relationships with each other and the environment. Humanity's struggle to achieve a balance between destructive dominion and creative exploration is brought into sharp focus, reminding us of how far we've come from our origins.