If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
| If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front | |
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Promotional poster for If a Tree Falls
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| Directed by | Marshall Curry (director), Sam Cullman (co-director) |
| Produced by | Marshall Curry, Sam Cullman |
| Written by | Marshall Curry, Matthew Hamacheck |
| Music by | James Baxter |
| Cinematography |
Sam Cullman The National |
| Edited by | Matthew Hamacheck, Marshall Curry |
| Distributed by | Oscilloscope Laboratories |
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Release date
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Running time
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85 minutes |
| Language | English |
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front is a 2011 American documentary film by filmmaker Marshall Curry. It tells the story of eco-terrorist Daniel G. McGowan of the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), from his first arson attacks in 1996 to his 2005 arrest by the Department of Justice. The film also examines the ethics of the ELF at large and how terrorism is to be defined.
Premiering at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, If a Tree Falls was rapidly acclaimed by critics. Many considered it one of the best documentaries of 2011 for its thought-provoking portrayal of complex environmental and political issues. It won a number of awards, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Daniel McGowan first became involved with the ELF in 1996.
The Department of Justice launched Operation Backfire to find the arsonists.
In 2006, McGowan was arrested. Signing a plea agreement, he was sentenced to 7 years in prison.
Director Marshall Curry knew Daniel McGowan through his wife's work. McGowan did not strike him as the terrorist type, so after his 2006 arrest, he was intrigued to find out what led him to his radical course of action.
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Documentary Editing. Oscilloscope Laboratories would subsequently pick it up for theatrical distribution.
PBS broadcast the film on September 13, 2011, as part of its POV series.
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