Movies: The System (2025) by Joris Postema: Fighting the Climate Battle from the Inside Out
- dailyentertainment95
- Sep 13
- 5 min read
When Idealism Meets the Climate Fight
The System is a documentary by Joris Postema that follows three people committed to battling climate change: Pippi van Ommen (activist), Henk Ovink (diplomat/flood expert), and Tadzio Müller (writer/activist). The film asks: when the situation is dire and the resistance enormous, what pathways to change are viable—protest, diplomacy, persuasion or direct action? Filmed across multiple countries, in Dutch, English, and German, it presents both personal convictions and systemic obstacles. Postema weaves intimate interviews, scenes of public demonstrations, policy-meetings, and moments of doubt and frustration, painting a picture of what it takes to push for radical change in a system resistant to being changed. Runtime is about 89-90 minutes, produced by DOXY.
Why to Recommend Movie: Clear, Urgent, and Humanized Activism
Three perspectives that contrast & complement — Each protagonist uses different methods: diplomacy, protest, writing; this variety makes the documentary richer, letting viewers assess which tactics resonate with them. The film becomes part biography, part strategic exploration of how change can—or cannot—be achieved.
Emotion and realism over rhetoric — The film doesn’t just preach; it shows the emotional toll, the fatigue, risk, commitment. When Pippi organizes a protest or Henk navigates bureaucratic walls, the frustration is palpable. This grounded portrayal gives the climate fight a human face.
Systemic framing — Rather than focusing on individual solutions alone (e.g. recycling, renewable energy), The System intentionally asks how systems of power, politics, economics and culture must shift. It challenges comfort, asking what real change demands.
Effective mix of access and intimacy — Viewers see both large, public moments (climate conferences, protests) and private, vulnerable ones (doubts, conversations at home), making the activists feel real, conflicted, courageous.
Timely release — In a moment where climate anxiety, political gridlock, and environmental disasters are increasingly visible, this documentary is not just relevant—it feels urgent, part of the cultural pulse of 2025.
Where to watch: https://picl.nl/films/the-system (Netherlands)
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37578802/
About movie: https://doxyfixy.nl/films/the-system/
What is the Trend Followed: Climate Documentary with Actionable Insight
This film aligns with the growing wave of climate documentaries that seek not just to sound the alarm but to explore real-world action and strategy.
Climate cinema is moving away from doom-focused narratives toward exploring agency — what individuals and groups can do, and how systemic change might happen.
The System mirrors a shift in filmmaking that spotlights activism’s emotional labor, showing the human cost of resisting entrenched systems rather than presenting activism as purely heroic.
The film represents the globalization of the conversation — crossing borders and languages to show that climate action is an interconnected effort.
Director’s Vision: Seeing Power and Powerlessness Up Close
Joris Postema frames his documentary not as a lecture but as an intimate observation of those who dare to confront an enormous problem. His camera lingers on quiet moments — exhaustion after protests, silence after negotiations — to highlight the cost of this work.
He avoids easy optimism or despair, instead allowing tension to simmer: change is possible but not guaranteed, and that ambiguity is what gives the film its emotional weight.
Postema uses contrasting soundscapes — loud protest chants versus the stillness of diplomatic offices — to reflect how climate action shifts between chaos and careful negotiation.
Themes: Power, Resistance, and the Price of Hope
Systemic inertia vs human urgency — The film shows how slow-moving political and corporate structures clash with the urgency activists feel as disasters loom.
Moral courage and burnout — Each protagonist wrestles with exhaustion, disillusionment, and the question of whether their sacrifices will matter. The film offers a rare look at the emotional sustainability of activism.
Multiplicity of action — It rejects a one-size-fits-all solution, showing that protest, diplomacy, and writing each have a role in shifting the future.
Hope as a radical act — Despite setbacks, the film insists on hope, presenting it as a deliberate and difficult choice rather than a passive feeling.
Key Success Factors: What Makes the Film Stand Out
Strong character focus — The three leads are compelling and relatable, providing viewers with entry points into a daunting global conversation.
Balance of global and personal stakes — By switching between international stages and personal living rooms, the film keeps the issue both urgent and grounded.
Cinematic polish — The film is beautifully shot and edited, with pacing that keeps viewers engaged while giving them space to reflect.
Relevance to current discourse — At a time of rising climate anxiety, the documentary offers not just alarm but insight, encouraging action and dialogue rather than paralysis.
Awards & Nominations: Recognizing a Timely Achievement
The System has been widely praised in early European festival screenings and is anticipated to be a contender at major documentary festivals like IDFA and CPH:DOX. While final awards tallies are forthcoming, early buzz highlights its innovative structure and emotional depth as a standout of 2025.
Critics Reception: Strong Early Acclaim with Thoughtful Critiques
NRC Handelsblad called it “a gripping portrait of those who refuse to give up,” praising its mix of urgency and humanity while acknowledging it occasionally circles familiar arguments.
De Volkskrant highlighted its intimacy, saying it “brings the global fight into the kitchen, where the exhaustion and quiet despair are most visible.”
Variety (Europe) praised the cinematography and structure but noted that some viewers may crave more concrete policy outcomes or actionable steps.
Overall summary: Critics agree that The System is both emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating, even if its open-endedness leaves some questions unresolved — a deliberate choice that mirrors the ongoing fight it depicts.
Reviews: Emotional, Thoughtful, and Provocative
Strengths: The film excels at capturing the human side of climate activism, its emotional toll, and its stubborn hope. Its intimate approach allows viewers to connect personally with a vast, complex issue.
Weaknesses: Some may find the pacing slow or the lack of clear solutions frustrating, but this reflects the reality of systemic change and invites the audience to fill in the next steps.
Overall: The System is a rare documentary that blends urgency with empathy, leaving viewers moved and challenged rather than merely informed.
Movie Trend: From Awareness to Action
The film reflects the current trend of moving beyond climate alarmism toward practical, multi-pronged strategies for change. It is part of a wave of documentaries that ask “what now?” and inspire viewers to think of activism as a process, not just a protest.
Social Trend: Collective Responsibility and Emotional Honesty
The System aligns with the social movement that calls for collective climate accountability, highlighting that this is not an individual burden but a shared responsibility. It reflects growing public conversations about burnout, emotional resilience, and finding hope amid crisis.
Final Verdict: A Must-See for the Climate-Conscious
The System is a compelling, urgent, and beautifully crafted film that challenges viewers to look at both the world and themselves. Rather than offering easy answers, it opens a space for reflection and action — leaving audiences inspired, unsettled, and ready to engage.
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