EVEN THOUGH THE WHOLE WORLD IS BURNING

"W.S. Merwin is an extraordinary poet. That much I knew from several decades of reading. 'Even Though the Whole World is Burning' showed me the man himself and the extraordinary place he and his wife Paula have created to preserve part of our natural heritage. A wonderful film about life, language, and the natural world we all share."

Synopsis:Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin has won almost every major poetry prize that exists, including two Pulitzers. His legacy is based not only upon his writings, but also the singular form of environmental activism and land stewardship he embodies. Now in his 88th year, Merwin has dedicated over three decades to preserving and regenerating native plants and palms on a 19-acre site on the north shore of Maui, Hawaii. Called the Merwin Conservancy, the preserve holds the most comprehensive private collection of palms in the world, with over 800 species.

These tangible actions for the environment go hand-in-hand with his poetry, offering important insights for an era marked by environmental degradation, human disconnect with natural processes, and rapid climate change. Merwin is a vibrant, humorous and challenging subject, and has not been involved in a feature documentary before. EVEN THOUGH THE WHOLE WORLD IS BURNING is an intimate portrait of a man who is often called a “national treasure.”