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If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front (2011)

Daniel McGowan , Marshall Curry  |  NR |  DVD
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)

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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

Special Features

None.

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

Customer Reviews

It's much harder to see them as exactly like you and me. J.L.  |  7 reviewers made a similar statement
Very entertaining, informative and gripping story. NYFB  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement
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
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.
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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.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Implicitly apologetic
To give this documentary credit, it doesn't look and sound like something M. Moore could have made. Yet it is not quite impartial as it wants to come across. Read more
Published 1 month ago by oortcloud
5.0 out of 5 stars ELF...
This documentary is about how Earth Liberation Front was formed, did and how they were arrested and convicted by the US government. Read more
Published 1 month ago by NYFB
5.0 out of 5 stars Please watch
I think everyone needs to watch this movie. If you are an activist, you will connect with Daniel on a whole new level. Read more
Published 5 months ago by TAS_XVX
5.0 out of 5 stars The making of a radical
This is a great documentary. It shows how an every day person becomes radicalized enough to take drastic measures. A great documentary for Sociology classes.
Published 5 months ago by Pentimento
4.0 out of 5 stars Cut off your nose to spite your face?
A great documentary should show all sides of a controversy, and with that in mind, "If a Tree Falls" succeeds. Read more
Published 5 months ago by R. Gawlitta
5.0 out of 5 stars In response to the criticism that this film "humanizes terrorists"
Some people have called this film deplorable because it is "apologetic" by attempting to "humanize" the "terrorists. Read more
Published 7 months ago by J.L.
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrorism???
If that is terrorism, many of those companies, including some branches of the police and government officials are committing much worse acts of terrorism on a daily basis to say... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Endeconomicslavory
3.0 out of 5 stars Apologetic and Narrow
The doc was interesting and somewhat informative. I thought the first half of the doc gave fair coverage to both the ELF and the law enforcement sides of the issue. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Joseph A. Verica
2.0 out of 5 stars Radical behavior
Radical terrorism. Some disturbing scenes of protesters and vandalism.
It's unfortunate that people are pressured to take extreme measures like the ones reported on here. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Rextrent
2.0 out of 5 stars If You Commit Arson but Really Believe It's the Right Thing to Do is...
My answer to that question is an emphatic yes.

"If a Tree Falls" is a well produced, interesting documentary about the Earth Liberation Movement. Read more
Published 13 months ago by maskirovka
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