Upcoming Documentary Nights at the Redpath Museum

If you are looking for a cinematic experience with a bit of political-environmental kick, join the Redpath Museum this month for two documentaries that train a critical eye on today’s ecological issues.

Both films are free of charge, and held in room 200 of the Redpath Museum.

February 9: Wiebo’s War (2011)

Big Oil calls convicted 1990s oilpatch saboteur Reverend Wiebo Ludwig an eco-terrorist and portrays him as a patriarchal cult leader. He calls himself a devout Christian driven to defend his Trickle Creek farm from the deadly effects of toxic sour gas wells. David York takes his camera into the heart of Ludwig’s Christian community to create a powerful film about two decades of conflict. Their footage of confrontations with gas workers and police, and its stark contrast with media reports, raises a critical issue: when politicians and police become sock puppets for private interests, is vigilante action justified?

 

February 16: Vanishing of the Bees (2010)

Colony Collapse Disorder has brought beekeepers to crisis in an industry responsible for producing apples, broccoli, cherries, almonds and a hundred other fruits and vegetables. This documentary follows two commercial beekeepers as they strive to keep their bees healthy and fulfull pollination contracts across the U.S. They plead their case on Capital Hill and travel across the Pacific Ocean in the quest to protect their honeybees.