LOS ANGELES — A new documentary is aptly titled Hot Money, a reference to the flow of funds between countries to earn a short-term profit from the difference in interest rates.

In the film, former NATO Commander and Retired Four-Star Gen. Wesley Clark and his son, Wes Clark Jr., lead viewers through the realities of the financial system and the economic effects of climate change.

"We just go back and forth, his perspective, my perspective, and we try to balance things off and try to reach a conclusion," said Gen. Clark.

Academy-Award winning actor Jeff Bridges, whose Montecito home was severely damaged by mudslides in 2018, also appears in the film. In addition, experts in energy, economics, law, banking, and real estate both entertain and educate about the prime force driving our world: debt.

"We’ve never had as much capital in this country as we have right now, and if we don’t spend it toward things we need and change some of our systems, I mean, financially, we’ll be toast long before the planet overheats," Clark Jr. said.

For example, more frequent wildfires in California are making certain homes impossible to insure, which impacts mortgages and the debt market and creates a domino effect that could eventually cripple the economy.

"Maybe you won’t get caught in a fire, but this thing is connected worldwide through the financial system," said Gen. Clark.

Both men said the U.S. lost four critical years of dealing with climate change due to the Trump administration’s refusal to act. They explained how the government must take the lead — not just to save our environment, but our economy as well.

"Ok, walk to the grocery store instead of driving. Fine, I mean, that’s your contribution, but that won’t do it. It has to have government leadership," Gen. Clark said.

"Find candidates and vote for them who will do something and take action because it’s going to require government intervention in the economy," added Clark Jr.

Artwork by a cartoonist for The New Yorker is also sprinkled throughout the film to help illustrate some of the complex concepts with a little humor.

"Of any issue we have in the United States that we’re looking at, this is the most important," Clark Jr. said.

Gen. Clark noted that while private industry has initiatives and skills, more government rebates are needed to make the transition profitable for companies to go green and get the public onboard. Otherwise, extra production costs will only get passed onto the consumer.

"You tell them, 'OK, you’re going to pay an extra $10,000 tax to sell that automobile.' Well, they’re not going to sell the automobile at a $10,000 loss. They’re just going to make Joe Smith down the block pay $10,000 more for the car," said Gen. Clark.

It’s a film both men hope will resonate with educators, activists, and lawmakers.

"You have people so disconnected and so ignorant as to how the world actually functions, they believe the kind of nonsense that’s peddled online and by unscrupulous politicians," Clark Jr. said.

It's a two-hour economics lesson featuring the highest of stakes.