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Disenchanted with the modern world, Michael Lees heads into the forest of Dominica with some basic survival gear, religious texts, a camera, and questions: “Why did man ever leave the forest? And what makes for a good life?”
Just as he starts to acclimatize to his new life – the unexpected: Category 5 Hurricane Maria, one of the top ten Atlantic hurricanes in history, makes direct landfall. Michael must ride out the hurricane in his palm leaf and bamboo hut. With the nation in ruins, the forest destroyed, and essential services knocked out islandwide, the entire country must now return to a past way of life if they hope to survive.
Uncivilized is an adventure, as much as it is a meditation on the necessities of a good life – a timely question in an age of climate change and over-consumption.
The film screening will follow with a live Q&A with the Editor and Director, Michael Lees and Pepukaye Bardouille, Energy and Climate Resilience, Upstream Infrastructure Group at IFC – International Finance Corporation
Speakers:
+ with McKinsey & Company, advised corporations and governments on strategy, organizational design, and operational performance enhancement. Served blue chip firms in power, oil & gas and mining sectors globally on corporate & growth strategy, including expansion into Africa and Asia
+ with the World Bank, developed and delivered energy sector and private sector development initiatives, interfacing closely with ministerial-, senior multi-lateral and business counterparts
+ lead the Climate Resilience Execution Agency for Dominica, tasked with helping the country—ravaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017 (90% of homes damaged or destroyed, 90% of agriculture decimated, total impact was 226% of GDP) achieve its bold vision of becoming the world’s first climate resilient nation
+ with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), pushed the envelope on scaling up commercially-viable, off-grid energy access business models in Africa and Asia. Currently focusing on developing replicable approaches and an investment pipeline to enhance resilience across all infrastructure categories in small islands and small states.
Pepukaye Bardouille
Senior Operations Officer, Global Upstream Infrastructure, International Finance Corporation
Never one to shy away from bold decisions, in 2017, Michael embarked on his debut feature documentary project, Uncivilized, which led him into the forests of Dominica, where he would face Hurricane Maria alone in in a palm leaf and bamboo hut.
Lees has written, shot, and edited for clients ranging from Billboard to UNICEF. Much of his inspiration is drawn from his home island, Dominica.
Michael Lees
Director, Uncivilized
