Marshall Curry’s “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front” makes me want to watch more documentaries. He told a fascinating story that exposed people on both sides of the issue and humanized them past their stereotyped roles. I enjoyed the little details, like how Daniel took off and recycled all the labels of his sister’s canned goods, leaving her clueless as to what is in each can. That kind of passionate action with little forethought weakened his cause, especially when a parallel is seen with the destroyed farm that did not have genetically modified plants. Yet the shot of the train with the ostentatious rows of harvested logs passing by in an endless display made me sympathize with his frustration.

At first, I thought it was ridiculous to call him a terrorist. He did not kill anyone. He wanted to see change happen, the kind of change peaceful protests did not seem to be making. But he is still a criminal. While I thought the shots of the company owner walking around his destroyed building looking sad were slightly corny and fake, that man and his family and other workers experienced terror, fear for their lives. He inspired terror, but the word terrorist may carry too much weight.