REVIEW: Groundswell

Co-narrator Woody Harrelson promises “not another depressing documentary” at the start of this one, and he’s right. Don’t expect Groundswell  to absolutely blow you away; its storytelling isn’t markedly innovative, and the basic science has to be explained like in any climate-oriented documentary. But this one does feel different in its sheer vastness.

Filmmakers Joshua Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell have put in the work, traveling to more than half a dozen countries and interviewing nearly two dozen experts on systems that work. It all builds up to a clarion call to consider regenerative agriculture as a macro solution to the climate crisis.

And it’s a convincing call, considering the many ways it’s working on a micro level, which the documentary visualizes and explains very well. This film is the third in a trilogy and may be the best yet, thanks to its expansive ambition and globally inclusive framework. The message is clear, compelling, and convincing. What more can you ask of a documentary?

Premiering as a Special Screening May 13 at the Cannes Film Festival 2026.

Originally published by Common Sense Media.

Images courtesy of Amazon Prime Video.