PRODUCTION STATEMENT

I firstly heard of Gianluca Grimalda from the radio: the speaker was teasing a climate researcher about his planned slow-travel from Germany to New Guinea, 40 days and dozens of trains, ferries and buses to save a few tons of CO2.

Since years I was planning to make a film about climate change and, later that day, I contacted him. I never thought of following him on his journey: right from the start, my idea was to provide Gianluca with all the tools to make the movie: how to film, what to film, why. By the time of his arrival, hours of shooting had turned him into an expert cameraman.

Gianluca's research lasted six months, tons of vicissitudes I would have seen later on.

I already had a good story, but the best was yet to come. When his Institute asked him to be back in five days, which meant catching a plane, he refused, and his dismissal went viral worldwide.

He kept filming with increased passion, his phone the only tool to spread his message and make it meaningful.

I physically met Gianluca for the 1st time two days after Christmas, he had made it to Italy just in time, carrying 400 hours of raw footage.

A few months later, “The Researcher” was done.

SYNOPSIS

“After refusing to fly, climate researcher loses his job.” By the time the news detonates globally from The New York Times, Gianluca Grimalda has been involved in filming for “The Researcher” for months.

Climate activist, Grimalda gave up everything - an enviable career and salary, the relation with his girlfriend, family affections and a job he loved beyond all else - to raise the alarm about climate change, to provide an example and, perhaps, a possible way out.

Was it worth it?

DIRECTOR

Born in Bra (Italy) in 1976, he is author and director of several documentaries, included award winning films “Barolo Boys”, “Langhe Doc” and “The Runner”.

“The Researcher” is the second chapter of his “Apocalypse Trilogy”.