The_Forest_for_the_Trees

__**FILM ANNOTATION FOR "THE FOREST FOR THE TREES"**__

The Forest for the Trees, Bernadine Mellis, 2004  The central argument of this film was to question “who polices the police.” The film was centered around a woman named Judi Bari who was accused of being a terrorist by the FBI when she was just a woman trying to protect the forests from deforestation by working with the logging industry. The film showed how long it could take to bring justice to an innocent environmental activist just because large corporations have agendas and power over the government and judicial systems.  Most importantly, this film draws out how unsustainable the current logging practices are. There are only 3% of the Redwood trees that one grew in the United States and more are being chopped down every day, an obvious example of the effects of deforestation. This is not only unsustainable because the logging corporations do not replant the forests, these trees take centuries to mature and it alters the ecosystem in which it inhabits. The fight between loggers and the environmental activists was also unsustainable because many people were being injured or killed in the process. Since logging corporations refused to decrease the rate of logging, activists began to place spikes on the trees to deter the workers from cutting down trees. These spikes could seriously injure the workers. Without coming to some sort of agreement, these issues would just escalate. It also addressed sustainability issues in terms of judicial practices. Corporations have become so entangled with the law that innocent people are accused of heinous crimes and then taken on a wild goose chase to redeem their names. The system has become corrupt and if it is not re-evaluated, the justice system will be run into the ground. 4. What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why? ** The parts of the film that I found the most compelling was the story revolving around the director’s father and a display of Judi Bari’s willingness to work with the loggers. Regarding the director’s father, it was obvious that he truly cared for his client, even after her death, and would do whatever it took to clear her name and bring justice to her family. That he believed so blindingly in her innocence that it almost made me want to get up and rally to her cause. His attitude toward approaching Judi Bari’s case also compelled me to his cause because he seemed very straightforward and not a “word twister” which made me more inclined to trust and agree with their perspective. As for Judi Bari’s tale, I was impressed to learn that she tried to work with the loggers to come to some sort of compromise to continue logging but at a more sustainable pace. Some activists are unwilling to budge on their beliefs and therefore become almost as bad as their opposition. However, when I see that an activist is wise enough to learn that a compromise is the safest and best choice, I am more compelled to agree with their stance. 5. What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by? ** I felt that the film was composed pretty well and did not feel like there were any parts that were irrelevant to the story. Generally, I did find it a little discouraging that it took so long for the case to be solved, although I was glad it turned to the favor of Judi Bari’s family. The only small part that I did not care for was that out of all of this, the family only received monetary compensation for their pain as opposed to a more appropriate reward.  This film compels me to want to learn more about the intricacies of the trial. I would also like to have learned more about who might have plotted against Judi Bari and why justice was not pursued on her attempted assassination. I would also like to learn more about the conference she was attempting to hold between the loggers and the environmental activists and if they ever tried anything like that again. 7. What audiences does the film best address? What kind of imagination is fostered in viewers? Do you think the film is likely to change the way viewers think about and act on environmental problems? ** I think this is actually very appropriate for anyone in high school and above. If I had to pick a more targeted group of potential viewers, I would choose law students and environmental activists. I think it could be inspiring and eye-opening for law students because they get to witness the social responsibility and genuine client-care expressed by the father and his associates for Judi Bari’s case. I think is also educational for environmental activists to learn the importance of compromise and non-violent actions. I would not say it really fosters imagination in viewers but I would say that it might change their views on how environmental activists are portrayed. Judi Bari was portrayed as a terrorist to the public and people are quick to judge environmental activists as “nut jobs,” but this movie shows how wrong these misconceptions can be. 8. What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film? ** This particular film did not openly promote any actual points of intervention. However, through the film, I learned that keeping people accountable for their reports and investigations is key to acquiring justice. If Judi Bari’s lawyers had not been so meticulous with their findings and notes, they definitely would not have won their case. The importance of compromise and non-violent activism is also made quite apparent in this film. Judi Bari was really paving the way to a more sustainable logging industry before her attempted assassination. 9. What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educatio nal value?** The film could have enhanced its environmental educational value by delving deeper into more background about logging and the impact of deforestation on the environment. Otherwise, the film did a pretty successful job at covering all of the environmental issues surrounding this topic.
 * 1. Title, director and release year? **
 * 2. What is the central argument or narrative of the film?**
 * 3. What sustainability problems does the film draw out?**
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 * 6. What additional information does this film compel you to seek out? Where do you want to dig deeper and what connections do you want to make with other issues, factors, problems, etc.?**
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