As the Tide Comes In

Mandø is vulnerable, situated out in the Wadden Sea. Its highest point is only 12 meters above sea level, and the water level keeps rising. The island’s residents will be among the first to feel the impacts of climate change directly. And now, a storm is on the horizon. The population on this tiny island has dwindled to fewer than 30 permanent residents. In the small local shop, the owner keeps a close eye on the weather forecast. Climate change has brought increasingly extreme weather, raising the question: is there a future on this exposed island?

We meet some of the people living there, including 100-year-old Mie, birdwatcher Niels, and hopeless romantic Gregers. The residents of Mandø share a desire to continue living as they have for generations—and a disdain for politicians in Copenhagen who fail to take climate change seriously.

As the Tide Comes In offers many poignant moments but also glimpses of charm and humor from life on this unique island. This is a calm, reflective film that will leave viewers with much to ponder.