My Extinction Josh Appignanesi's climate change film

My Extinction explores the father of two's personal journey towards climate activism, taking in his home life, relationships, foray into action, and "resistance to joining anything that sounds worthy".

"It started in 2019, that year of Greta and David Attenborough and Extinction Rebellion on the streets," said the 48-year-old.

The film follows Josh exploring climate change activism (Image: Dartmouth Films)

"A question formed in my mind particularly with discussions with my wife, about why we don't do anything, even though we know the environment is the single issue that takes in all other issues - the air that we breathe, and the survival of our children?"

The director behind The Infidel and Song of Songs grew up in Archway among the North London literati - his mum Lisa is a writer former President of English PEN, and one time chair of the Booker International Prize; his father Richard is founding publisher of Icon Books.

The former St Michael's Highgate and UCS Hampstead pupil has made an "unapologetically middle class film" exploring why educated, socially conscious people still do nothing about the existential threat posed by the climate crisis.

My Extinction takes a personal look at Josh's family, two children and wife to ask why he doesn't act to protect their future. (Image: Dartmouth Films)

"They are not climate denialists, maybe they donate to Greenpeace, but the question is why are we paralysed and not doing anything? I am using myself as the test case, as a comic model of ineptness and denial, why can't someone like me do something? I am selfish I am not an altruist, I am wrapped up in my career and worries about family, I've got a lot on my plate, but it's all about me, and this is one more thing I can't' think about."

The problem is that climate change is "too huge and just not local enough."

A still from My Extinction (Image: Dartmouth Films)

"It's a traumatic knowledge that your life is going to get a lot worse and the lives of your children and grandchildren are going to be so much worse. Already now in our nice bubble we are starting to feel the effects, but in other parts of the world it's killing people. Air pollution in London is killing people, but we seem to not mind about that.

"People are unconsciously doing things that damage our childen's lives, like buying a massive SUV 'for you family's security,' but you are actually wrecking the world."

Actor Mark Rylance at a climate change rally (Image: Dartmouth Films)

The film maker talks to XR members, the likes of antinatalist Danny Shine who believes it "doesn't make sense to continue the human race," but also to teachers, doctors and lawyers who "get off the sofa" and act.

He takes a humorous approach "with me as the butt of the joke, as a stand in for our denials and hypocrisies."

"It's bleakly funny, you have to laugh otherwise you cry, but also because most climate change films are worthy and boring, and make people feel guilty so they turn off."

He believes sharing feelings of climate anxiety, paralysis, and guilt is a step towards action.

My Extinction is screened at Hackney's Castle Cinema, Curzon Cinemas UK Wide and at JW3 in Finchley Road. (Image: Dartmouth Films)

"You will feel better and those same feelings can become the fuel for action. As a group we become powerful. There are amazing campaigns that really do achieve things, history has proved that collective action works. But it can't be online."

Ultimately My Extinction is "a hopeful film".

"You don't need to go on strike or become Greta Thunberg. If you stop thinking of this as a thing that's too big, and ask what can I do? If you are a lawyer, do some pro bono work for a climate charity, a teacher can integrate ideas into class..."

Or a film maker could make a film about climate activism.

"If everyone did five per cent that would be a massive social change better than a few people doing 100 per cent."

The film's running joke is whether he's prepared to get arrested.

"The state we have now is very unfriendly to disruptive protest and I have no intention of getting arrested. In these movements it's mostly the grandmas who are up for getting arrested, they are hardcore, they've done their careers, and it's exciting. But a middle aged man with small kids like me? No."

Josh Appignanesi is at a Q&A at the Castle Cinema, Hackney tonight (July 13) with Extinction Rebellion co-founder Clare Farrell and Just Stop Oil's Indigo Rumbelow. My Extinction is screened at Curzon cinemas nationwide on July 26, and at JW3 in Finchley Road August 4, 7, 8 and 10. For a full list of screenings go to dartmouthfilms.com