Zach Fauver Baraka film

The image of a beautiful giant tree cracking and falling in the jungle has been turning in my mind for last week. There is a magical and powerful element to a film without words. It allows the viewer to create their own interpretation of the images shown on the screen. So instead of each person having the same interpretation, it is possible that the film could mean something different to each person in the audience.
Growing up, I was never really much of an environmentalist. My parents never instilled values concerning conservation or the importance of the environment. There is only one time that I can remember actually caring about the environment. When I was younger, every free day that my friends and I had would be spent playing in the woods in the back of my neighborhood. We would explore, build forts and have scary adventures. After several years spent in those woods they began to hold a special place in my heart. I had an emotional connection and love for that place. I can still vividly remember the day the heavy equipment came rolling down the street to begin clearing for development. My heart sank as I knew that the place where so many memories were made was about to be destroyed. Even though I was older and didn’t really spend very much time in the woods any more they still held a special place in my heart.
Seeing the face of the indigenous women immediately following the crashing tree really hit home for me. Thinking about my situation and then comparing it to theirs really puts it into perspective. The wilderness is everything to them, their source of life, their religion and their culture. The closest comparison I can think of is if somebody came in with a wrecking ball and destroyed your house and your church, leaving you with nothing. This film opened my eyes to what people are going through in order to supply the wasteful and resource sucking wants of the developed nations.