If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
2011·Documentary·1h 25m
7.1
★
Filmmaker Marshall Curry explores the inner workings of the Earth Liberation Front, a revolutionary movement devoted to crippling facilities involved in deforestation, while simultaneously offering a profile of Oregon ELF member Daniel McGowan, who was brought up on terrorism charges for his involvement with the radical group.
Directed by Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
demonstration
arrest
arson
terrorism
ecology
eco terrorism
environmentalist
environmentalism
earth liberation front
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Crew
Marshall Curry
Director
Sam Cullman
Director
Marshall Curry
Writer
Marshall Curry
Editor
Sam Cullman
Director of Photography
Sam Cullman
Producer
Marshall Curry
Producer
Marshall Curry
Sound Recordist
Marshall Curry
Additional Camera
Popular Reviews
5 reviews
serg
8.0★ · 05/09/26
“The reality is that 95% of the standing native forest of the United States have been cut down. It’s not radical to try and save the last 5%.”
“The reality is that 95% of the standing native forest of the United States have been cut down. It’s not radical to try and save the last 5%.”
lexi
I dont know how people can watch this movie and not be on the side of ELF. I understand they faced poor organization but they were facing such a large and seemingly indestructible industry. One that didnt only affect the environment but the communities they based themselves in. That bit of the horse blood getting into the town's drinking water was terrifying. A good look into the cost of fighting for what is right.
I dont know how people can watch this movie and not be on the side of ELF. I understand they faced poor organization but they were facing such a large and seemingly indestructible industry. One that didnt only affect the environment but the communities they based themselves in. That bit of the horse blood getting into the town's drinking water was terrifying. A good look into the cost of fighting for what is right.
Kat
Heroes. If you don’t cry watching trees fall I don’t fw you.
Heroes. If you don’t cry watching trees fall I don’t fw you.
va24mar
8.0★ · 11/15/24
2011 | Documentary
It’s almost impressive how every kind of demonstration - no matter the cause and no matter how actively peaceful - will always face police brutality and will always be met with violence. And when those brutalized people take action into their own hands they’re labeled terrorists, as opposed to the police force, the government or the rich individuals, corporations, lobbies and capitalist system.
I wasn’t familiar with the Earth Liberation Front before, so this was immensely interesting to me. Not only the way they were organized and the things they did, but also how they organically evolved out of peaceful movements that were always violently cracked down and how they individually dealt with their principles when faced with hundreds of years in prison or cooperation with law enforcement and ratting-out their accomplices. And seeing those police pigs sitting there with smiles on their faces, calling them terrorist was both so expectable yet still infuriating.
This is a pretty great documentary about a movement that - like pretty much every single movement calling for social and systemic change or challenging the imperialist, capitalist status-quo - is still incredibly relevant, years or even decades later.
It’s almost impressive how every kind of demonstration - no matter the cause and no matter how actively peaceful - will always face police brutality and will always be met with violence. And when those brutalized people take action into their own hands they’re labeled terrorists, as opposed to the police force, the government or the rich individuals, corporations, lobbies and capitalist system.
I wasn’t familiar with the Earth Liberation Front before, so this was immensely interesting to me. Not only the way they were organized and the things they did, but also how they organically evolved out of peaceful movements that were always violently cracked down and how they individually dealt with their principles when faced with hundreds of years in prison or cooperation with law enforcement and ratting-out their accomplices. And seeing those police pigs sitting there with smiles on their faces, calling them terrorist was both so expectable yet still infuriating.
This is a pretty great documentary about a movement that - like pretty much every single movement calling for social and systemic change or challenging the imperialist, capitalist status-quo - is still incredibly relevant, years or even decades later.
2011 | Documentary
It’s almost impressive how every kind of demonstration - no matter the cause and no matter how actively peaceful - will always face police brutality and will always be met with violence. And when those brutalized people take action into their own hands they’re labeled terrorists, as opposed to the police force, the government or the rich individuals, corporations, lobbies and capitalist system.
I wasn’t familiar with the Earth Liberation Front before, so this was immensely interesting to me. Not only the way they were organized and the things they did, but also how they organically evolved out of peaceful movements that were always violently cracked down and how they individually dealt with their principles when faced with hundreds of years in prison or cooperation with law enforcement and ratting-out their accomplices. And seeing those police pigs sitting there with smiles on their faces, calling them terrorist was both so expectable yet still infuriating.
This is a pretty great documentary about a movement that - like pretty much every single movement calling for social and systemic change or challenging the imperialist, capitalist status-quo - is still incredibly relevant, years or even decades later.
It’s almost impressive how every kind of demonstration - no matter the cause and no matter how actively peaceful - will always face police brutality and will always be met with violence. And when those brutalized people take action into their own hands they’re labeled terrorists, as opposed to the police force, the government or the rich individuals, corporations, lobbies and capitalist system.
I wasn’t familiar with the Earth Liberation Front before, so this was immensely interesting to me. Not only the way they were organized and the things they did, but also how they organically evolved out of peaceful movements that were always violently cracked down and how they individually dealt with their principles when faced with hundreds of years in prison or cooperation with law enforcement and ratting-out their accomplices. And seeing those police pigs sitting there with smiles on their faces, calling them terrorist was both so expectable yet still infuriating.
This is a pretty great documentary about a movement that - like pretty much every single movement calling for social and systemic change or challenging the imperialist, capitalist status-quo - is still incredibly relevant, years or even decades later.
annalez
6.0★ · 01/11/24
will i get put on a watch list if i say i kinda stan the elf
will i get put on a watch list if i say i kinda stan the elf