Review of If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front (2011) by Thomas W — 19 Dec 2011

While not the best, most eye-opening documentary to come out these last couple of years; If a Tree Falls sheds some much needed light on those peoples labeled eco-terrorists and puts much rhyme and reason to their actions.

The inner-workings of their minds are explored in-depth with a couple of case studies of actually "terrorists" currently residing in special prisons scattered across the US built for terrorists .

.. like the kind who blow buildings up with people inside of them (as opposed to these "terrorists" who have destroyed some property). Valid points and cases are made why these people have done what they have done .

.. not so valid is the governments labeling of these said subjects (no distinction is made between terrorist taking human life or those causing some ecological destruction (which itself is an unfair "label" as these few are standing up against actual corporate entities hellbent on ecological destruction .

.. but points are made that it is all about $$$ and so law and government sides with donors [duh ... sucks to be you 99%-er!]). I was hoping that the film would have been slightly more compelling and even more show-y in its presentation of the subject; but as is this is a stardard doc one would find on any television channel.

While the subject matter is important; there is nothing special here (filmwise). The subjects in this film never assert that they are NOT criminals or have not done criminal acts and they oftentimes admit that they didn't think their activities fully through (which says quite a bit about these individuals).

This is an element of If a Tree Falls that I respected -- it isn't giving any of these guys a "free pass" to cause mayhem and distruction; but it does raise the valid question of whether or not these people are being treated fairly in the criminal justice system with the label of "terrorist" being practically branded to them.

The E.L.F. is a an eco-awareness group who mostly trendy towards protest and non-violence and NOT a single death has resulted from any of their activities ... a remarkable feat in my opinion. I do respect what the film is representing just as I respect the right of anybody to non-violently protest (although some acts [as depicted in this film] have gone too far .

.. and nobody here would really deny that either). This could be a slippery slope; but the filmmakers have done a fine job depicting the victims (on both sides) of this legal issue. Like I said -- there isn't anything spectacular or awesome here (seeing eco-destruction that the ELF is protesting against is sad, though); but it has merit.