What Really Counts, directed by Kent Martin, is a thought-provoking documentary that challenges the dominant economic narrative centred around the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a statistic often deemed the most important in human history. The film argues that our global reliance on GDP and its demand for perpetual economic growth is driving humanity toward devastating outcomes, including war, poverty, extreme climate change, and mass extinctions—potentially even our own.

Through the intertwining stories of Ronald Colman, a visionary political scientist from Canada, and Jigme Y Thinley, the former Prime Minister of Bhutan, the documentary explores alternative models that prioritise human well-being over mere economic output. Colman has spent decades developing the Genuine Progress Index (GPI), a metric that assesses the real quality of life, while Thinley has championed Gross National Happiness (GNH), a philosophy that guides Bhutan’s development and measures prosperity through holistic and sustainable approaches.

The film takes viewers on a global journey, from the bustling cities of the West to the serene landscapes of the Himalayan Kingdom, revealing the tireless efforts of Colman and Thinley as they collaborate across local communities, sovereign states, and international platforms like the United Nations. Their mission is to shift the world's focus from relentless economic growth to a more balanced, sustainable approach that truly reflects what counts in life.

What Really Counts is a compelling call to reevaluate the metrics by which we measure progress, urging a return to common sense and a focus on sustainability for the future of our planet.