DVD
If a tree falls [videorecording (DVD)] : a story of the Earth Liberation Front / a coproduction of Marshall Curry Productions, LLC and the Independent Television Service (ITVS), with funding by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ; in association with Lucky Hat Entertainment, American Documentary (POV) and the BBC ; directed and produced by Marshall Curry ; co-directed and produced by Sam Cullman ; written and edited by Matthew Hamachek, Marshall Curry.
The remarkable story of the rise and fall of the Earth Liberation Front, a radical environmental group that the FBI calls America's 'number one domestic terrorist threat,' told through the transformation and radicalization of one of its members, Daniel McGowan. Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Marshall Curry weaves a chronicle of McGowan facing life in prison with a dramatic investigation of the events that led to his involvement with the ELF.
Record details
- Physical Description: 1 videodisc (85 min.) : sound, colour ; 4 3/4 in.
- Edition: Widescreen.
- Publisher: New York, NY : Oscilloscope Laboratories, c2011.
Content descriptions
| General Note: | Bonus features: Optional audio feature commentary with Marshall Curry, Sam Cullman, and Matthew Hamachek ; Deleted scenes ; Post-screening Q&A in Ashland, Oregon, with Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman ; Extended interviews ; Original theatrical trailer ; "You cannot control what is wild" (updates from subjects in the film). Film was broadcast on the PBS series POV in 2011. |
| Formatted Contents Note: | Earth Liberation Front -- Daniel -- Warner Creek -- Making change -- House arrest -- Take initiative -- Civil disobedience -- Seattle -- Superior lumber -- Book club -- What is wild -- Jacob -- Takedown -- Terrorism -- Seven years. |
| Creation/Production Credits Note: | Cinematography, Sam Cullman ; music, James Baxter, The National. |
| Participant or Performer Note: | Interviewees: Daniel McGowan, Lisa (McGowan), Tim Lewis, Kirk Engdall, Jim Flynn, Jenny Synan, Susan Synan, Bill Barton, Leslie James Pickering, Greg Harvey, Chuck Tilby, Suzanne Savoie, Steve Swanson, Chuck Wert, Don Rice, Jake Ferguson, Dan McGowan, Lauren Regan, Stephen Peifer. |
| Target Audience Note: | Not rated. |
| System Details Note: | DVD ; NTSC, region 0 ; 1.78:1 aspect ratio ; Dolby digital 5.1 surround and stereo. |
| Language Note: | English dialogue with optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired. |
| Awards Note: | Winner, Documentary Film Editing Award (Marshall Curry, Matthew Hamachek), 2011 Sundance Film Festival ; Winner, Environmental Visions Grand Jury Prize, 2011 Dallas International Film Festival ; Winner, Best Documentary Feature (Marshall Curry), 2011 Nashville Film Festival ; Winner, EarthVision Environmental Film Grand Jury Prize (Marshall Curry), 2011 Santa Cruz Film Festival. |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Earth Liberation Front > History. McGowan, Daniel, 1974- Ecoterrorism > United States > History. |
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Camosun College Library.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Circulation Modifier | Holdable? | Status | Due Date | Courses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lansdowne Library | GE 197 I387 2011 (Text) | 26040003299027 | Media | Volume hold | Available | - |
- Video Librarian Reviews : Video Librarian Reviews
Earth Liberation Front (ELF)âan environmentalist coalition that adopted extreme tactics characterized as eco-terrorism by authoritiesâis the focus of filmmaker Marshall Curry's If a Tree Falls, which personalizes ELF's history by tracing the group's evolution through the experiences of Daniel McGowan, a member who participated in early operations before dropping out. Years later, McGowan was turned inâby a former comrade who became a government informantâand indicted under charges that could carry a long prison term. Interweaving excerpts throughout from interviews with McGowan and his family as his case heads toward a resolution, the documentary recounts how the ELF progressed from nonviolent civil disobedience, which won it little recognition but some serious police counterattacks, to acts of arson against perceived enemies (including a logging operation, a forestry service station, a car dealership, a slaughterhouse, and a ski lodge)âacts that put the ELF in the FBI's crosshairs. While the film does question whether authorities overreached in the charges lodged against ELF membersâsince the group targeted property and never injured anyoneâthe filmmakers also afford time to law enforcement officials to argue their case, making this a more nuanced than polemical documentary. DVD extras include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, extended interviews, an update on McGowan, and a Q&A with Curry and cinematographer Sam Cullman. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek) Copyright Video Librarian Reviews 2011.
