If a Tree Falls, directed by Marshall Curry

Just finished watching If a Tree Falls, directed by Marshall Curry, and it is a knock your socks off piece of filmmaking.

If you have ever wondered what drives environmental activists to chain themselves to trees, fight the system, and earn labels that leave corporate couch potatoes dazed and confused, this film lays it out with clarity and restraint. Told through the capture, trial, and prosecution of Daniel McGowan, the documentary explores how a thoughtful and seemingly grounded individual became involved in acts that would ultimately label him an environmental terrorist and arsonist.

MARSHALL CURRY

The film is edited masterfully, using linear interviews that carefully unfold the story while blending reenactments, archival footage, and amateur video into a seamless and emotionally driven narrative. The post-production recreations are effective without being sensational, supporting the story rather than overpowering it. The result is a heartfelt and unsettling look at how frustration with the system can push someone from protest into direct action, even when that action results in millions of dollars of destroyed private property.

What makes the film so effective is its balance. From beginning to end, it allows both sides to speak. It does not excuse the crimes, nor does it flatten the motivations behind them. By the time the film reached its conclusion, I was surprised to find myself conflicted. While fully aware of the severity of McGowan’s actions, I still found myself wishing the punishment could somehow just go away. That emotional tension speaks to how successfully the film humanizes its subject without asking the audience to agree with him.

This is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that stays with you long after the credits roll.

The film is currently available to stream and rent online, including on Netflix. Watch it when you get the chance and let me know what you think.

This was a DOC THIS report by Barry Walton