Life plus 335 years. The price to pay for protecting the planet you love? Or justice for a being a terrorist? That is the question.

I stumbled across this trailer for If A Tree Falls on Apple’s website the other day, and was completely taken in by the story this documentary has to offer. The film brings us a compelling ‘behind-the-curtain’ look into what many call the world’s most dangerous environmental group, the Earth Liberation Front – told through the story of  radial environmentalist Daniel McGowan, who faced life in prison for gorilla warfare-like acts of arson. Sound interesting? Read on.

Instead of taking sides or pushing an agenda, with subject matter that will likely divide audiences, If A Tree Falls simply looks to tell a story – leaving you to debate the content, and morality of what you’ve see on screen, after you leave the theatre. According to co-director Marshall Curry, they didn’t want to provide an answer but instead ask questions, like: “How do we define terrorism? When does sabotage or vandalism become terrorism? What is activism? What’s effective? What’s ethical? What makes sense?”

This looks like it’ll be very interesting viewing and spark (pardon the pun) much discussion after the closing credits have ended. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVPH4hntyq8&feature=related

A rare behind-the-curtain look at the Earth Liberation Front, the radical environmental group that the FBI calls America’s ‘number one domestic terrorist threat.’

Directed by Academy Award Nominee Marshall Curry (Street Fight) and Sam Cullman, If A Tree Falls won the 2011 Documentary Editing Award at Sundance.

If A Tree Falls is currently on festival release. The film has been picked up by US distributor Oscilloscope, so will get a theatrical release in the States at least. No theatrical release dates have been announced, however.

What did you think of the trailer? Is this the sort of thing you’d go and see? What’s been your favourite documentary of the past few years? (Mine’s The Cove)