RichMichaelAnnotation2

“The Forest for the Trees," Bernadine Mellis, 2004
 * 1. Title, director and release year?**

- civil rights, environmentalism, unequal treatment by the law - conspiracy against Judi Bari by the FBI and Oakland Police
 * 2. What is the central argument or narrative of the film?**

- foresting issues - faulty governmental system (loopholes, corruption, conspiracy)
 * 3. What sustainability problems does the film draw out?**

- footage of Judi’s deposition is very moving - COINTELPRO (interesting, never heard of it) - Judi’s daughter and her testimony during the question-answer session was very grounding - absurd treatment of Judi (arrest at the hospital immediately after surgery, claims against her being in possession of the bomb) - uncovering incrementally how the government slipped up - closing remarks (and images) really connected on a personal level - end quote by Hamilton, good way to make you think once the film ended
 * 4. What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?**

As I should have been, I was not at all convinced by the comportment of the FBI and their reasoning as to why Judi should have been treated the way she was. The evidence against her was atrocious. Claiming that Earth First! was a terrorist organization was a good joke too.
 * 5. What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by?**

- would have liked to know a little bit more about the “tree spike” and its effects - what does Earth First! do? - some extra info on COINTELPRO
 * 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.?**

This film would be appropriate for members of higher education. Having some prior knowledge of environmental activism and the judicial system would be helpful.
 * 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?**

This is not readily apparent. I can only think that a restructuring of legal proceedings as well as our judicial system may be in order; with a focus on equal treatment.
 * 8. What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film?**

- it would have been nice to get more information about the court proceedings (I realize that filming or taking pictures is not permitted, but more description from the lawyers could have helped) - still want to know who the bomber was - why Judi Barry? have others like her been targeted?
 * 9. What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?**