If our world were a movie, everything from the dawn of humanity to its end distilled into a motion picture, would it even be worth watching?

In between watching the world crumble and going on with life like it isn't, I wonder this.

What would the audience say? How would the critics rate it? Would the concept even make it into production?

I picture, somewhere in an alternate universe, a crowd settling down to watch. Why did they come? Was it marketed as a tragedy, a comedy, a horror? Some sit spellbound, marvelling at the wonders we've created. Amazed by our automations, intrigued by our inventions, bamboozled by our beliefs. Some are less impressed. "Oh, come on!" they yell, much to the displeasure of their neighbours. "You expect us to believe that? No one could be that stupid!"

But regardless, they all watch. Some in awe, some in disbelief, some in tears.

As they shuffle out one by one, I wonder what they say to one another. In my mind, they criticise some of the more obvious plot holes.

"What, they knew their whole planet was heating, and they just let it happen?"

"Everyone keeps complaining about their leaders- why don't they just do something other than vote?" 

And the question that sits on everyone's minds: 

"They all knew how it would end. So why wouldn't they stop it?"

If that movie were real, a glimpse into our own future available in cinemas for all to see, how would we react? All our failings laid in front of us, our eventual demise playing out before our eyes. Would we listen and learn? Would we acknowledge our mistakes - would we do what we could to fix them?

If our world were a movie, it's not one I want to be in. But at the same time, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

But why wouldn't I want to be in it? Because, if it were a movie, its inhabitants are the most unrealistically lacklustre ensemble I've ever seen. That's the point we've reached - reality is unrealistic. They say the truth is stranger than fiction, and some things you just couldn't make up. That we're staring down an existential climate crisis, and the consensus is to just roll over and accept it before it's done. That we call our experts out of touch, and the less you know, the larger your audience. That people are fed up with the status quo, yet their only act of rebellion is to disengage from their only way of changing it - surrendering their power just to complain they have none.

If our world were a movie, we'd be at the climax right now. Everything we know is crumbling, and Big Bad Climate Change is at the door. Now's our final chance to win.

If our world were a movie, it's one that desperately needs a hero. Let the critics complain about deus ex machina, but that option's as good as any right now.

But we don't need a god to save us. We just need enough people who care enough to save ourselves.
What matters is that we care. What matters is that we're not afraid to be seen caring.

If our world is a movie, the real villain is our apathy. And it's winning.

Only if we care enough can we rewrite our ending.