Film Review: The Hidden Life of Trees
Film Still- The Hidden Life of Trees. Courtesy of Fusion Entertainment
THE HIDDEN LIFE OF TREES (2020) DIRS. JULIA DORDEL, GUIDO TOLKE
Written by: Belle McIntyre
The perfect synchronicity of a year of pandemic-induced need to stream endless movies and the temporary “time out” for humans, combined with the plethora of excellent documentaries on all aspects of the natural world, has had the effect of expanding our awareness of the nature of all things and it’s interconnectedness to everything including us. This compelling film, based on the best-selling non-fiction book of the same name, by Peter Wohlleben, invites us for a walk in the woods which will change the way you look at things in nature. Wohlleben, our host on the journey, is an appealing tall, lanky guy who speaks and writes with deep understanding, a wealth of information, and the instincts of a mentor combined with passionate commitment to making a difference.
Film Still- The Hidden Life of Trees. Courtesy of Fusion Entertainment
With a degree in forestry, his experience for the next 20 years as a forest ranger provided the ground for his explorations into new ways of thinking about our approach to land management. He began publishing books to much acclaim internationally, including The Inner Life of Animals, and The Secret Wisdom of Nature. His view of trees veers in new directions as he recognizes how they function in nature, in forests and on farms. He sees them in a very holistic way, as members of a community of other trees within the greater ecosystem of the forest, including fungi, bugs, birds, and micro-organisms which are supported by the living root systems as well as the decomposing old growth and dead trees.
Film Still- The Hidden Life of Trees. Courtesy of Fusion Entertainment
His points of view are vividly and stunningly illustrated with lushly beautiful drone footage of forests and land from above and amazing time-lapse and micro-photography of the roots and the ground just beneath the surface, which is where so much of the action is taking place. It all makes perfect sense without the excessive anthropomorphism which he employs to attribute causalities of observed plant behavior. I had the same issue with My Octopus Teacher and it was one of my favorite films. Why can’t we appreciate trees for the miracles which they are without having to project human motivations to them? But that should not, in any way deter anyone from seeing this celebration of the natural world in an experience which is meditative and simultaneously and a call to action.
