A film by G. Anthony Svatek
Addressed as a fraught love letter to 19th century gay scientist Alexander von Humboldt — the world's most used namesake — HUMBOLDT USA paints a portrait of Americans trying to understand and respond to their rapidly changing environments. Three braided stories reflect Humboldt's motto “everything is interconnectedness” — asking: how do the tools of the modern world change our relationship to nature?
“'Humboldt USA' is a timely “Fraught Love Letter” to a naturalist, challenging our notions of technology and environmentalism.”
The Hollywood Reporter
“A beautifully framed and expertly composed environmental documentary with a head-spinning premise.”
SLANT Magazine
“Among the most fascinating nonfiction experiences of the year.”
Hammer to Nail
“A rare, experientially potent film. A playful narrative poetry that meditates on contemporary environmentalism through a beautifully rendered lens.”
Filmmaker Magazine
“A thoughtful, political, and often surprising documentary. Svatek emerges as a major new voice in documentary cinema, one of intellect and dexterity.”
International Cinephile Society
“Deftly edited and deeply thought-provoking.”
Modern Times Review
“Enthralling… so vivid and complex.”
Film Forward
Synopsis
Countless places across the United States still bear the name of Alexander von Humboldt — queer naturalist, visionary ecologist, now largely forgotten. The longing filmmaker uses three of them as unlikely common ground, weaving Humboldt's own words through present-day lives: urban activists greening neglected neighborhoods, scientists scanning redwood forests, hunters returning bighorn sheep to protected land. Across generations and landscapes, HUMBOLDT USA explores the remains of Humboldt's vision of “interconnectedness.” What arises is a kaleidoscopic portrait of archaic, emerging, and occasionally absurd strategies to “preserve” nature in America, asking whether the tools used to understand the world meet the scale of our ecological crises.
Upcoming and Past Screenings
DMZ Documentary Film Festival
September 10–17, 2026 — South Korea · Q&A with Director
Climate Film Festival
September 20, 2026 — New York City, NY · Q&A with Director
Buffalo International Film Festival
October 9, 2026 — Buffalo, NY · Q&A with Director
Team
Made with support from
Poster Design: Brent Chesanek / Auxerrine
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