Product Details

• Actors: Daniel McGowan
• Directors: Marshall Curry
• Format: Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Oscilloscope Laboratories
• DVD Release Date: August 30, 2011
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0053YS9XI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,966 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT is the remarkable story of the group's rise and fall told through the transformation and radicalization of one of its members, Daniel McGowan. Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Marshall Curry (STREET FIGHT, RACING DREAMS) weaves a chronicle of McGowan facing life in prison with a dramatic investigation of the events that led to his involvement with the ELF, creating a film that is equal parts coming-of-age tale and cops-and-robbers thriller. Using never-before-seen archival footage and intimate interviews with cell members and with the prosecutor and detective who were chasing them IF A TREE FALLS asks hard questions about environmentalism, activism, and the way we define terrorism. BONUS FEATURES: Feature length audio commentary with director Marshall Curry, co-director Sam Cullman, and editor Matthew Hamachek Deleted Scenes Extended Interviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars HOW -- AND WHO -- DEFINES TERRORISM? October 20, 2011

By Robin Simmons VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

By the middle of the last decade, the FBI determined the Earth Liberation Front to be "(America's) most dangerous terrorism threat." On December 7, 2005, the feds - in a nation-wide raid -- rounded up radical environmentalist associated with the ELF.

Marshall Curry and Sam Culliman's absorbing and disturbing film follows the ELF's rise and fall as told through the experiences of member Daniel McGowan. Part coming-of-age (or is it "coming of rage"?) story and part a crime thriller as we see Daniel radicalized and then arrested with a possibility of life in prison. With ample archival footage - some of it is guaranteed to outrage - and intimate interviews with cell members, prosecutors, family members and even the detectives pursuing them, this film does not flinch from raising the hard questions about our human role in safe-guarding the environment as well as how -- and who -- defines terrorism.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front October 4, 2011

By damian

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Listening to the commentary track of the director et al, I found myself disagreeing completely with their choice to centre the documentary around one person and unfold the story around him. I thought the bigger picture got diminished in his personal story. Whether they were being careful not to offend the authorities or mindful of funding and distribution politics for independent documentaries.....the tone of the documentary appears to be apologetic and defeatist. It appeared to be a documentary about the 'wrong' choices the activists had made and their now regretful feelings. Instead of soliciting a spectrum of radical opinions and looking at the broader social issues and affects of 'destruction' activism, the documentary seemed to wrong-end the telescope and create an impression of a radical minority who had 'gone overboard'. It almost had the feel of a reality-tv soap opera scripted piece. Neutered and washed clean of any affirmation of its politics and focusing on personal emotion, when it could have been a compelling look at a significant social issue.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting film documenting something very complex without choosing sides June 21, 2012

By Z. Freeman VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

Just stumbled across this documentary - I was afraid it might just be a mouthpiece for members of ELF to give their side of the story but really it shows how complicated these types of situations are. By the end the central question seems to be whether members of ELF can be classified as "terrorists" for the destructive actions (arson, mostly) that they have taken. What I appreciated was that this film doesn't attempt to answer that question but really lets you see opinions both from the people who performed the acts (and are now being charged) and the people who had the acts performed to their property. Letting the audience look at both sides really helps show how complicated this is and how sometimes people can think they're doing "the right thing" but actually be misguided (at one point they show that ELF members destroyed a location that was not actually doing the types of testing they were led to believe they were doing). Some reviews here have said this doc is supporting ELF, but I would argue that this doc just tells the incredible story of what they did and what the consequences were. Really interesting and captivating film. The special features are good too, especially a short update that gives information on where various people who were interviewed are two years after the film was made.