IT’S fair enough for Canberra to claim award-winning documentarist Tom Zubrycki as one of its own, even though his career has done most of its blossoming elsewhere.

He hasn’t totally severed the connection – he was born and educated here and visits often; Canberra’s Ronin Films distributes those of his films that don’t belong to Film Australia, ABC or SBS.

In 2009, Zubrycki began filming a documentary about what climate change is doing to the Republic of Kiribati,  four groups totalling 32 atolls and one coral island, none with an elevation more than two metres above 3.5 million square kilometres of Pacific Ocean which, influenced by changing climatic patterns, is slowly eating it away.  Prospects for its 150,000 people are dire.

Maria Tiimon represents Pacific Calling Partnership in Sydney. This NGO focuses its energy on preparing Kiribati for the day when the hungry tide finishes consuming it.

Zubrycki accompanies Maria to the Copenhagen climate change conference and on her return to Kiribati to report. He films the encroachment of the sea and the building of sandbag walls to keep it out. Sydney’s suburban railway system becomes a metaphor for the contrast with Kiribati’s poverty.

The film makes a useful visual contribution to understanding Kiribati. Its government and people have a realistic attitude to their future. The best option will not be easy, sending advance parties to settle in neighbouring developed countries to prepare for when the bad joke about asking the last person to leave NZ please to turn out the light becomes Kiribati’s reality.

Zubrycki outlines the issues with candour. Australia, which has already mined Kiribati’s main resource on Christmas Island, is best positioned to extend the helping hand.

Without proselytising, “The Hungry Tide” is a gently-fashioned heads up that lays the foundation for that.

At Greater Union, Manuka, 6.30pm, December 11-14. Q&A with Tom Zubricki. on December 11.