Wrenched

Gr 10 Up—Offering a chronology of Edward Abbey's influence upon the environmental movement, this award-winning documentary examines the power of activism. Narrated by Abbey's friend Jack Loeffler, the film incorporates Abbey's words, news footage, and reminiscences from his associates, including Robert Redford, Doug Peacock, and Terry Tempest Williams, combining to highlight Abbey's relevance. The time line begins with a brief look at Abbey's early life, his novel writing, and, in the 1950s, his cutting down roadside billboards, which would later become known as "monkey wrenching," for sabotaging the system. Other aspects of the environmental movement presented include the flooding of Glen Canyon, the Earth First! movement, and the Earth Liberation Front. Throughout, activists recount the influence Abbey had upon their lives and their efforts to save the wilderness. A most recent example is Tim DeChristopher. He was sentenced to jail for his attempt to stop the lease of federal land. (His story is documented in the film Bidder 70.) DeChristopher urged people to take direct action and use their talents to enact their own "monkey wrenches."