Bigger than Us

Young people all over the world are addressing problems that at first glance may seem unrelated, such as climate disruption, curtailment of press freedom, social injustice, food insecurity, human rights abuses, and lack of access to education. They believe there’s a different and better way, and they have solutions. Take Melati, for example: she and her sister managed to get the sale of plastic bags and disposables banned in Bali.

In this optimistic film, the now 20-year-old Melati travels the world visiting fellow activists—young people who are changing and sometimes saving lives, though not always getting on the news. One of them is Mary, who went to Greece to help refugees arriving by boat. She wants to be sure she’s done everything in her power to improve the situation, no matter how small her contribution may be.

In Malawi, Lebanon, Brazil, Uganda, and the United States, Melati meets some of the young people who, at risk to their own lives, are trying to correct the mistakes made by previous generations. Where do they get their strength from? What motivates them?