Surviving Progress (2011)

Every time history repeats itself, the price goes up.

Surviving Progress (2011) poster

Humanity’s ascent is often measured by the speed of progress. But what if progress is actually spiraling us downwards, towards collapse? Ronald Wright, whose best-seller, “A Short History Of Progress” inspired “Surviving Progress”, shows how past civilizations were destroyed by “progress traps”—alluring technologies and belief systems that serve immediate needs, but ransom the future. As pressure on the world’s resources accelerates and financial elites bankrupt nations, can our globally-entwined civilization escape a final, catastrophic progress trap? With potent images and illuminating insights from thinkers who have probed our genes, our brains, and our social behaviour, this requiem to progress-as-usual also poses a challenge: to prove that making apes smarter isn’t an evolutionary dead-end.

Director: Harold Crooks, Mathieu Roy
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 86 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Editing: Louis-Martin Paradis
Production: Big Picture Media Corporation, ONF | NFB
Country: Canada
Language: English
Box Office: $108,640
Original Language: en

Themes

Environmental Activism and Nature Threat, Ecological Catastrophes and Nature's Warning, Plant Kingdom: Hidden Life, Environmental Collapse and Nature's Warning

Keywords

china, based on novel or book, technology, overpopulation, economy, business, economics, ecology, south america, environmental, environment, environmentalism, chimpanzee, deforestation, rainforest

Trailer

Surviving Progress Trailer
More Films by Director: Harold Crooks, Mathieu Roy
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Surviving Progress about?
Humanity’s ascent is often measured by the speed of progress. But what if progress is actually spiraling us downwards, towards collapse? Ronald Wright, whose best-seller, “A Short History Of Progress” inspired “Surviving Progress”, shows how past civilizations were destroyed by “progress traps”—alluring technologies and belief systems that serve immediate needs, but ransom the future. As pressure on the world’s resources accelerates and financial elites bankrupt nations, can our globally-entwined civilization escape a final, catastrophic progress trap? With potent images and illuminating insights from thinkers who have probed our genes, our brains, and our social behaviour, this requiem to progress-as-usual also poses a challenge: to prove that making apes smarter isn’t an evolutionary dead-end.
Who directed Surviving Progress?
Surviving Progress was directed by Harold Crooks, Mathieu Roy.
Who stars in Surviving Progress?
Surviving Progress stars Stephen Hawking, David Suzuki, Jane Goodall.
How long is Surviving Progress?
Surviving Progress has a runtime of 1h 26m (86 minutes).
What genre is Surviving Progress?
Surviving Progress is a Documentary film.
How much did Surviving Progress gross?
Surviving Progress grossed $108,640 worldwide.
Where was Surviving Progress produced?
Surviving Progress was produced in Canada.
What are the themes of Surviving Progress?
The themes of Surviving Progress include: Environmental Activism and Nature Threat, Ecological Catastrophes and Nature's Warning, Plant Kingdom: Hidden Life, Environmental Collapse and Nature's Warning.