Natalie Portman’s New Movie 'Arco' Is An Animated Wake-Up Call About Climate Change

The world is both a literal and metaphorical hellscape right now, and no one knows that better than Natalie Portman. The actress, vegan, and longtime climate activist has been at the forefront of calls for climate change and awareness throughout her decades-long career. And now, she’s using animation to further the cause. In Arco, a newly-released animated film from French director and illustrator Ugo Bienvenu and produced by Portman, audiences are introduced to the not-so-distant future. Except in this version of Earth, in the year 2075, those tsunamis and wild fires that are becoming increasingly frequent and more devastating? They’re essentially the norm; with homes outfitted with glass domes that offer protection during bouts of extreme weather. It’s here that we meet Iris, an adventurous 10-year-old looking for adventure out of her day-to-day. When, one day, she rescues Arco, a time-travelling kid transported from the future, it becomes a story on the power and impact of friendship, in more ways than one.