Bigger Than Us – Un mondo insieme

Bigger Than Us – A World Together, presented in the Cinema for the Climate section at the 74th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, is a documentary that examines the resilience and strength of new generations through the eyes of Indonesian activist Melati Wijsen. At just 12 years old, Melati began her fight against plastic pollution in Bali, but soon realizes that her struggle is part of a larger, global crisis. During her journey, the young activist meets other peers such as Memory Banda in Malawi, who fights against forced marriages; Mohamad Al Jounde, who is dedicated to ensuring education for refugee children in Lebanon; René Silva in Brazil, who advocates for the voices of the favelas; and other young people from Uganda, the United States, and Greece. Through their stories, Bigger Than Us explores global issues such as human rights, climate change, access to education, and social justice. The director Flore Vasseur embarked on this project driven by the desire to tell a story that could inspire adults to take action, focusing on the voices of those who, despite their young age, are contributing to improving their living conditions and those of future generations. Through their concrete actions, the film invites us to reflect on the urgency of addressing global issues. The director has followed them for years, listening to them, encouraging them to express themselves freely, and creating connections among them to prevent their energy from dissipating due to adult inertia. “They are bigger than us,” the director states, thereby justifying the title of the film.