Reviewed by Ian Mowll.
In Sheffield, one of Europe’s greenest cities, the council had a contract with a Spanish firm to improve the roads. This included cutting down a lot of trees, many of them along the sides of roads. We all know the benefits of trees: reducing pollution, helping wildlife and making a neighbourhood feel better, amongst other benefits. And so, this film is a true account of the local activists who took it upon themselves to confront, and to try to stop, the council from this appalling destruction.
A lot of the film is about the activism, the highs and lows and the many challenges along the way. It seems that the council were locked into a commercial contract that, for some reason, they seemed unable to extricate themselves from and so they were focussed on cutting down the trees regardless of local opposition.
I have personally met one of the key activists in the film; a genuine guy who put his neck on the line for the cause. But as the film shows, it can be very difficult to stand up to large organisations that are supported by the police.
Finally, spoiler alert, at the end of the film the council apologised and the tree felling stopped. That was so good to see and a great triumph for the activists. But I often think that there should be more accountability for such wrong decision making. The small guy sometimes pays the price but people in large organisations rarely seem to suffer for the harm they cause.
This film is a very good example of non-violent direct action working. And so I take heart that the voice of the people can be heard against the steamroller of large organisations.
At the time of writing, you can find out where to watch the film here: https://www.flicks.co.uk/movie/the-felling/