King Charles has bestowed his royal approval upon a powerful new documentary trilogy focused on saving the planet. The monarch was so impressed by the work of filmmakers Rebecca and Josh Tickell that he invited them to meet him personally at Dumfries House in Scotland.
Royal Endorsement for Groundswell
The final film in the trilogy, titled Groundswell, has been a decade in the making. It explores regenerative agriculture as a solution to climate change. Narrated by Demi Moore and featuring Woody Harrelson, the film also includes a cameo from Prince William.
Rebecca Tickell recalled the meeting with King Charles: "He told us Kiss the Ground was his favourite film. He said he believes it is his purpose on Earth to spread the message of regeneration." The King had previously shared the original film with over a thousand people and personally contacted the farmers featured.
A Film for Everyone
Josh Tickell emphasised that the documentary is not a typical environmental film. "We call it a ‘six-pint’ movie – it’s a great date night film, it will give you so much to talk about at the pub!" He added, "I think this could be the most important movie you watch this year."
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last month, with Demi Moore walking the red carpet alongside the directors and their children. Rebecca Tickell described the moment as "going to take an awful lot to top."
Star Power and Personal Motivation
Demi Moore became involved after watching the previous film and experiencing a personal revelation. "She’d just become a grandmother, and she just felt like her life had extended much further into the future," Rebecca said. Woody Harrelson, a father of three, is motivated by his children.
The couple’s own children accompanied them on the Cannes red carpet, making it a family affair. Rebecca admitted that completing the trilogy feels like a "huge relief." She explained: "When we started this in 2013, it felt like the weight of the world was on our shoulders. Groundswell is not just a movie; it’s the story of the global movement happening right now to reshape our world."
Relevance to the UK
Josh Tickell highlighted the film’s importance for British audiences: "The UK is in the middle of a farming crisis right now. You have a food crisis, a farming crisis, a fertilizer crisis. This has gone from being an eco-issue to being front-page news." The film features appearances from Andy Cato of Clarkson’s Farm and Jeremy Clarkson himself.
Rebecca concluded: "The goal is a billion acres into regeneration. It feels like our lives depend on people hearing this story."
Groundswell premieres on Amazon Prime on 5 June.
