In "Denial" (2016), filmmaker Derek Hallquist takes the audience on a deeply personal and professional journey. The documentary begins by documenting the life of his father, David Hallquist, the CEO of the largest locally owned electric utility in Vermont, who, as a self-described “closet environmentalist,” is determined to address the role of electricity use in contributing to climate change. At the same time, he must balance the responsibility of providing affordable and reliable service to the community. Hallquist’s solution to this dual challenge lies in increasing the efficiency of the electric grid, and he embarks on implementing one of the country’s first "smart" grids.
This initiative leads to fewer outages, a greater capacity for renewable energy sources, and a growing national reputation for Hallquist as a leader in the energy sector. However, resistance to his plans emerges from multiple fronts. Traditionalists worry about the intermittency of renewable energy sources like wind and solar, while advocates for these technologies argue that Hallquist is too cautious in his approach. Additionally, there is public skepticism around the implementation of “smart” meters, with fears that these devices could compromise personal privacy by transmitting information about household energy use.
As Hallquist struggles to steer his company toward a transparent and honest path - one that will help all stakeholders accept the realities of modern energy production - he begins to confront a far more personal issue: his own identity. For years, David Hallquist has struggled with a secret: he is, in fact, a transgender woman. Realizing that the transparency he has been striving for in his professional life must extend to his personal life, David reveals this truth to his son, Derek. Derek, who has always seen his father as a strong, chainsaw-wielding, hard hat-wearing CEO in a male-dominated industry, must now reconcile his relationship with a parent who has transitioned into Christine. This revelation forces the Hallquist family to confront a reality that feels as urgent and pressing as the global climate crisis itself. In this moment, a central theme of "Denial" becomes clear: denial, in both personal and societal contexts, is a pervasive force. The story of David's transformation parallels the collective denial of the environmental challenges that are looming over society. Ultimately, the film's power lies in the way it intertwines these two narratives - the personal and the professional - showing how both are connected through the lens of denial. Derek, as the filmmaker, captures his father’s journey not only as a family member but also as a documentarian grappling with the emotional complexity of the story. "Denial" thus becomes a poignant exploration of the intersections between personal identity and environmental responsibility.
What starts as a documentary about the future of America’s electric grid quickly becomes an exploration of identity, acceptance, and the transformative power of truth. The film contrasts the rigidity of the energy systems that Hallquist is trying to modernize with the personal transformation his father undergoes. David’s transition into Christine is depicted not just as a personal struggle but as a moment that speaks to the broader societal reluctance to confront uncomfortable truths. The film’s structure weaves these two narratives together in a way that highlights their parallels. Derek’s evolving relationship with his father, coupled with his role as the filmmaker, provides an intimate lens through which to view both personal and societal shifts. The documentary’s central message is that just as society must face the reality of climate change, individuals must also come to terms with their personal truths, however difficult they may be. Derek Hallquist’s decision to insert himself into the story was not a part of the original plan. In the early stages of filming, the documentary was designed to be a straightforward account of David Hallquist’s work in the energy sector. However, when David shared his gender identity with Derek, the film’s direction took an unexpected turn. The narrative of Christine’s transition became central to the film, as it mirrored the larger theme of denial and change. The filmmaker’s personal journey became inseparable from the larger societal issues explored in the documentary.
Making a documentary that includes such personal subject matter posed numerous challenges for Derek. He struggled to balance his role as a son with his responsibility as a filmmaker. This conflict led to moments of intense emotional and technical difficulty during the production process. Derek frequently found himself distracted from the technical aspects of filmmaking, as his focus was divided between capturing personal moments and maintaining objectivity in his portrayal of his father’s transition. The complexity of the situation was compounded by the fact that, initially, Derek was the only filmmaker involved in the project. As the production expanded, however, Derek’s team - composed of experienced filmmakers like executive producers Eugene Jarecki and Aaron Woolf - provided critical support, helping to navigate the emotional and technical demands of the project. The team’s collaborative approach allowed Derek to focus on capturing his family’s story while they managed the technical aspects of filmmaking. One of the most difficult decisions Derek faced was when to continue filming. While his father and family initially agreed to document the transition, as the project progressed, there were moments of hesitation and concern. Derek’s sisters, in particular, had reservations about the public nature of the transition, while David herself experienced moments of doubt. In family counseling sessions, Derek asked for permission to keep filming, and the family ultimately trusted him to tell their story honestly. This trust, however, placed an enormous amount of pressure on Derek, who felt the weight of his responsibility as both a son and a filmmaker.
The way "Denial" combines the themes of climate change and personal transformation is one of its most compelling aspects. The structure of the film evolved over time as the team worked to find a balance between the two stories. Initially, Derek filmed events without a clear sense of how they would ultimately fit together. However, as the production continued, the filmmakers decided to organize the story around two distinct narratives: one focused on the energy grid and the other on David’s transition. These two threads would gradually intertwine, reflecting the way personal and societal transformations often occur in tandem. The editing process, led by Anoosh Tertzakian, played a crucial role in shaping the final film. The team carefully organized the footage and used index cards to map out the timeline of both stories. This method allowed them to focus on the emotional and psychological depth of the narrative while maintaining a clear structure. The personal story of David’s transition gradually became the primary focus in the film’s third act, providing a resolution to both the personal and societal challenges presented earlier.
"Denial" premiered in a variety of film festivals and received a mix of feedback. One of the key takeaways from the festival screenings was the realization that the film’s subtle approach, combining humor, personal insight, and environmental commentary, might not fit neatly into traditional documentary categories. Audience members often responded to the emotional depth of the personal narrative but expressed some discomfort with the film’s meta-commentary and the presence of the filmmaker in the story. Despite these challenges, the screening process helped Derek and his team refine the film and make critical changes. They reduced the prominence of Derek’s role as a character, opting instead for a more nuanced portrayal of his family’s journey. This decision allowed the story to become less about the filmmaker’s personal struggles and more about the larger themes of identity, transformation, and societal denial. Ultimately, "Denial" is a documentary that succeeds in capturing the complexity of both personal and societal change. It explores how individual identities and global issues are often intertwined and how facing difficult truths - whether about one’s self or the planet - is the key to progress. Derek Hallquist’s decision to tell his family’s story with such honesty and vulnerability makes "Denial" not just a documentary about climate change but also a deeply human exploration of identity, family, and the challenges of confronting the truth.
Image credits: YouTube
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