If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front

El Biffo

I thought Daniel McGowan was a hero until I saw this film and realized that there is something wrong with his brain, Everyone who watched this film online is now on an NSA watchlist. Beware, your computer is watching you and reporting every keystroke to the authorities who will save the information forever. I love Big Brother.

Harry Rossi

While the filmmaking isn't spectacular, the content is pretty fascinating. I mean, you feel the frustration that these people were feeling towards the disgusting cooperations that seem to run our country. That being said, their methods got to be too extreme, and ultimately pointless, but you really truly get their motives. You also get both sides of the story told well of radicals vs. police. Interesting documentary!

Matthew_Lucas

Remarkably even-handed documentary profiles the Earth Liberation Front, a group of eco-terrorists, through the lens of one of their members on trial for arson. Raises interesting questions about what makes a terrorist, and explores the issue from both sides, but falters when it tries to make us feel sorry for a man who is only spending 7 years in jail for something he brought on himself.

Eleanor Abernathy

this was pretty interesting, especially after watching "Better This World"...i like how the directors attempted to really show both sides of the story (like the ELF really screwed up one of their arsons)...but the best comment for the whole film was: arson is a crime, but is it terrorism? i think that's what this film was really about.

pivic

Interesting documentary on people who illegally try to change the course of eco-politics (i.e. terrorists), first through democratically and legally OK protesting, but when the law works intrinsically in cahoots with the corporations, what then? Fires. In total, over 1200 attributed to the ELF (Earth Liberation Front). This is a good documentary focusing on some of the ones who were caught in the USA.

Christopher

Interesting... BUT I can't help but feel that it is glorified or will be glorified. We should be sympathizing with these drug addict, extremist fucks? Don't think so. They should've been put in prison for longer.

LexiLoo30

Very well put-together. Takes an immense amount of material and condenses it through focusing on a single man who is accused of eco-terrorism. Exploration of what "terrorism" is is equally interesting. Thought-provoking, even-handed, and excellent execution.

Brandon Isaacson

If a Tree Falls is an objective journalistic effort that examines scintillating moral dilemmas. After this film, we still don’t have any clear answers; however, the process of examination is fascinating. Read the rest of my write-up here: http://bostonianonfilm.blogspot.com/2011/07/if-tree-falls-st ory-of-earth-liberation.html