Review: We Have to Survive - Thessaloniki Documentary 2026

Key Takeaways

• Film links four climate‑impacted communities worldwide
• Observational style avoids narration, lets locals speak
• Highlights resilience over relocation narratives
• Cinematography showcases scale of environmental change
• Co‑production spans Slovakia, Austria, France

Summary

Slovak director Tomáš Krupa’s new documentary *We Have to Survive* premiered in Thessaloniki’s Open Horizons section, following climate‑adaptation stories in four distant locales: North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, Australia’s underground town Coober Pedy, and Greenland’s fishing villages. The film adopts a pure observational approach, letting residents narrate daily adjustments without voice‑over or expert commentary. Cinematographers Martin Čech and Ondřej Szollos capture expansive landscapes, while editor Peter Kudlička weaves the strands into a cohesive portrait of resilience. Produced by Slovakia’s Hailstone with Austrian and French partners, the documentary underscores community ingenuity amid rising environmental pressures.

Pulse Analysis

The rise of climate‑focused documentaries reflects a broader shift in media toward storytelling that humanizes environmental data. *We Have to Survive* joins a growing catalog of films that move beyond alarmist narratives, instead presenting on‑the‑ground adaptation tactics. By situating four geographically disparate communities within a single mosaic, the documentary illustrates that climate impact is not a distant abstract but a daily reality shaping livelihoods across continents. This framing resonates with audiences seeking tangible, relatable examples of how societies are responding to rising sea levels, desertification, heat extremes, and melting ice.

Krupa’s observational method—eschewing voice‑over narration and expert interviews—creates an intimate viewing experience that lets subjects speak for themselves. This technique aligns with the “fly‑on‑the‑wall” aesthetic popularized by recent award‑winning documentaries, fostering trust and emotional engagement. The film’s visual language, driven by wide‑angle lenses and drone footage, amplifies the sense of scale while maintaining a personal focus on individual stories. Such production choices not only enhance cinematic quality but also serve as a pedagogical tool for climate educators, offering vivid case studies without the filter of academic jargon.

For businesses and policymakers, the documentary provides actionable insights into community‑led resilience. The featured adaptation measures—coastal reinforcement in the Outer Banks, tree‑planting initiatives in Mongolia, underground housing in Australia, and diversified fishing practices in Greenland—demonstrate low‑cost, locally driven solutions that can be scaled or adapted elsewhere. Investors eyeing sustainable infrastructure can glean proof points for funding models that prioritize social capital alongside environmental outcomes. In sum, *We Have to Survive* delivers both artistic merit and pragmatic lessons, positioning it as a valuable reference point in the evolving discourse on climate adaptation.