Weber_The+Forest+for+the+Trees

The Forest for the Trees  **
 * Ashley Weber, Annotation #3, Date: 10/24/10 ** ** 

** Film, Director, Release Year ** The documentary The Forest for the Trees was directed by Bernadine Mellis and released in 2006. 

** What is the central argument or narrative of the film? ** Bernadine Mellis brings viewers along the ride of the entire court case involving Judi Bari vs. the FBI. Bari, an Earth First leader who dedicated her life to saving the forest, was a threat to timber companies that lead to her car being bombed in 1990 resulting in her arrest for being titled a terrorist. Bari sues and to her defense is a team of young environmental activists and older civil rights workers including Dennis Cunningham, a lawyer who had represented the Black Panthers and the Weatherman who relentlessly take on the US government.

This film focuses on the entirety of the court case where viewers witness the difficulty and sometimes unfairness that occurs when presenting the topic of environmental awareness and trying to bring about political change when vying for protection of right.

** What sustainability problems does the film draw out? ** One problem prevalent in the film is that corporations are far more protected by the government than environmental activist groups. Other issues deal with our law making structure of checks and balances. The government and in this case the FBI are supposed to keep citizens in line, while there is no one to make sure the government and police are following regulations. The immediate titling of Judi Bari as a terrorist with no prior causation is an example. Many facts were presented that were very eye opening. The judge was withholding information from the case that would have benefited Bari’s side. The police stated the nails used in the bomb were the same that were found in Bari’s car, which turned out to be completely false. There was an issue with the term “under” when involving the location of where the bomb was located in the car. A bomb school was run by the Lumber Company prior to the car bombing. This also contributes to the difficulty in fighting against the government and ability to have a fair trial or even get a trial in the first place.

Another problem is that the culture surrounding environmental movements have drastically changed over the years. Before mass movements and protests were part of the culture and were very common, however, this is not part of the current culture.

This film also shows viewers firsthand how easy it is for people to become so invested in legal work that that burnout in the activist sector is extremely common. Cunningham separated his wife because be became so wrapped up in his work as a lawyer that he didn’t have time or energy for a family and was only reunited with his daughter later in life. The physical draining of the court case was very relevant in the team fighting for Bari’s side.

** What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why? ** This film’s intimate style sets it apart from many other films. The camera was rolling the whole time, so the people you listen to are not preparing and rehearsing for a sit down interview with the cameraperson, but we witness these lawyers and civil rights workers going about doing their real jobs. I found this film the most compelling when watching the strategy meetings held on Bari’s side. Being able to listen to their thought process, emotions, ways they planned to go about outwitting the government and persuading the jury was very compelling and provided a great insight into how the court process works and the difficulties that can come associated with it. I also found it compelling that the interviews with the tree loggers showed how even they were inspired by Judi Bari and believed she was innocent.

 ** What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by? Why? ** Some parts of the film I would have left out of the film. At one point in the film, Cunningham pulls out his wallet and roll of twenty dollar bills and gives his daughter money for food. I felt this had no contribution to the point of the film and that it was almost a little rude flashing the money. Also, I found it to be a great surprise when Bari’s side came out of the court room with the win over the FBI, which should be a surprise. However, I felt leading up to this final court date, everything seemed to be going against their case and that the film gave no inclination about even a possibility of persuading the jury. I would have like to have at least seen some of the positive events that had to have occurred in the court room that led to their victory.

** What audiences does the film best address? Why? ** I feel that this video best fits people who are more familiar with the generation of protests and movements. However, viewers like me who do not have much knowledge about environmental protesting, would find this film very compelling that such a small group could beat the FBI and provide insight into the issues faced during this time period. Because this film is a little older, it probably would not be suited or keep the interest of those younger than college age.  ** What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value? ** Prior to watching this film, I had never heard of Judy Bari or Earth First. It would have been nice to have a little more background on the type of work that Earth First was involved in and their history as environmental activists. It would have also been interesting to hear about how common this type of government issues that have been involved with environmental activists groups during this same time period because I was kind of unaware of this specific issue.  ** What kinds of action and points of intervention are suggested by the film? If the film itself does  ** ** not suggest corrective action, describe actions that you can imagine being effective. ** <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">This whole film serves as a suggested action that should be used to fight government’s unfair actions. While fighting for years just to get a trial and the exhaustion did prove to be effective in protecting Bari’s rights after she died did turn out successful, this is not an ideal process that one should have to go through. There needs to be more done prior to this prevent corruption of the government and making court cases more fair for both sides. <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> ** <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">What additional information has this film compelled you to seek out? (Provide at least two supporting references.) ** After watching this film, I was compelled to learn more about the types of extreme activist groups that are out there. The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement (VHEMT) –“Phasing out the human race by voluntarily ceasing to breed will allow Earth’s biosphere to return to good health. Crowded conditions and resource shortages will improve as we become less dense.” <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">[] <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> The Earth Liberation Front was classified as a top “domestic terror” threat in the US by the FBI in 2001. “ELF was responsible for the intentional destruction by use of explosive devices that set fire to four multi-million dollar homes from the 2007 [|Seattle Street of Dreams] in [|Woodinville, Washington], costing $7 million in damage.” <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">[] <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">