NEED TO KNOW
-
Jane Fonda continues her activism by embarking on a road trip through areas affected by the oil and gas boom for an upcoming documentary.
-
«"It's been ingrained in me since I was a child because I had such a strong respect for my father," Fonda, 88, tells PEOPLE about where she drew her inspiration for activism.
-
The film "GASLIT"« will be released in limited release in select theaters on June 12.
Jane Fonda continues her activism, a commitment she says was inspired by her father, the late legendary actor Henry Fonda.
The 88-year-old Oscar-winning actress takes a road trip through Texas and the Gulf Coast in an upcoming documentary. «GASLIT» , which explores the consequences of the oil and gas boom. PEOPLE magazine exclusively presents the film's trailer below.
Fonda says the film aims to open people's eyes to the "climate crisis and crisis of democracy" facing the United States today.
«"If we don't change things quickly and move away from fossil fuels, coal, gas, and oil, we're heading for disaster," she told PEOPLE.
«"It impacts our economy. It impacts our health. By 2050, it could lead to more than 4,000 premature deaths. It impacts our well-being," she adds. "And the places in the world where this substance is most concentrated are the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana, and Texas.".
The documentary, which opens in theaters on June 12, also features "friends with great values," including actress Connie Britton and musician Maggie Rogers. "We wanted to show the damage this does to individuals, businesses, and entire communities," says Fonda. "And we wanted to show people fighting back.".
Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda in 1979. Photo: Sonya Moskowitz/IMAGES/Getty
Fonda's desire to help "outsiders" is a direct result of her upbringing. "I grew up in a family where they made films like «The Grapes of Wrath» , «Twelve Angry Men» , «"The wrong man"» и «The Ox-Bow Incident »" she says. "My father, Henry Fonda, made films that demonstrated certain values: championing the 'underdog,' people who aren't the strongest, fighting for justice. This has been ingrained in my DNA since childhood, because I deeply respected my father.".
Henry died at age 77 in 1982, a year after winning an Oscar for the film. «On Golden Pond» (1981), in which Jane played his daughter. He was also the father of actor Peter Fonda, Jane's younger brother, who died in 2019 at the age of 79.
Actress known for the film «Barbarella »"Around 1970, when I was about 33, I became an activist because of the Vietnam War," says Fonda, who earned the nickname "Hanoi Jane" after her controversial 1972 visit to North Vietnam during the war.
Jane Fonda and environmental engineer John Allaire in the film "Gaslit." Photo: Tim Aubrey/Greenpeace.
«"I knew nothing before, but the American soldiers opened my eyes to the realities of the Vietnam War," she adds. "When you take any issue and dig deeper, you find racism, you find greed. So I started studying a lot of other issues and became an activist. And, I might add, I became happier.".
Today, activism remains a central part of Fonda's life. "Because these crises are existential, it has become my life's work. We all want our lives to have meaning," she says. "And I have children and grandchildren. I want them to have a decent future, one with nature, wildlife, birds, and health.".
Fonda hopes that GASLIT will inspire others to take action. "We must raise our voices and make it clear that this is happening. We must protect the people who are most at risk and elect people to public office who will not tolerate this," says Fonda. "We have a lot of work to do.".
Film GASLIT will be available for viewing in select cinemas starting June 12.
Read the original article on People.