Humboldt USA

Humboldt USA is a portrayal of the dissonant ways Americans protect and relate to their rapidly changing environments. Using 19th century naturalist Alexander von Humboldt as a historical anchor, the film interweaves the stories of people in three ‘Humboldt’ placenames in Nevada, Chicago, and California who take unique steps toward tackling environmental concerns in their communities. These oft-disparate narratives raise the question: in the face of ecological collapse and increasing virtualization of nature, what does it mean to be an environmentalist in America today?