Time and Water review – Iceland’s doomed glacier tells its own story of climate disaster

National Geographic released a documentary titled "Time and Water" on June 8, 2026, focusing on the disappearance of Iceland's Ok glacier and the broader implications of the climate crisis. Directed by Sara Dosa, the film examines the work of award-winning Icelandic climate author Andri Snær Magnason, who penned the book "Of Time And Water" in 2019 and wrote a poignant "obituary" for the Ok glacier. This glacier was the first in Iceland to completely melt away, serving as a stark symbol of impending climate disaster for the nation and the world. The documentary, while visually appealing and well-intentioned, has been described as somewhat indulgent, with extended musings that sometimes overshadow its critical commentary on the climate crisis. Dosa's previous film, "Fire of Love," explored the doomed lives of volcanologists Maurice and Katia Krafft, who died in a volcanic eruption. "Time and Water" continues this theme of exploring passionate individuals confronting destructive natural forces, this time through the lens of climate change and its impact on Iceland's iconic glaciers. The film highlights Magnason's perspective on the existential threat posed by global warming, using the Ok glacier's demise as a case study for the irreversible changes occurring due to rising global temperatures. The narrative aims to convey the urgency of the climate crisis by personalizing its effects through Magnason's observations and writings, underscoring that the Ok glacier's fate is a harbinger of what awaits many other glaciers worldwide.