Watch Public Trust

Public Trust is a recent documentary film that addresses one of the most pressing issues of our time: the protection of America's public lands. Directed by David Garrett Byars, the movie was released in 2020 and features the perspectives of different stakeholders and activists who claim a right to preserve the natural beauty and ecological diversity of the country's unspoiled territories. From the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the film highlights the struggles and triumphs of the public's fight for the common good against corporate greed and political expediency.

The movie begins by establishing the history and significance of the country's public land legacy. It shows how President Theodore Roosevelt, a conservationist and outdoorsman, understood the importance of preserving the natural environment and wildlife for future generations. He established the U.S. Forest Service and national parks, ensuring that the land would be protected from private interests and development. Public Trust contrasts that vision with the current administration's efforts to reduce federal protections of public lands for commercial gain. The film argues that the privatization of public lands is a violation of the rights of citizens, who have a deep emotional and cultural attachment to these spaces.

The movie is narrated by Hal Herring, a journalist and hunting guide, who tells the story of the places and people fighting for the protection of public lands. One of the main characters in the film is Bernadette Demientieff, a Gwich'in leader and activist from Alaska. She is the spokesperson for the Gwich'in Steering Committee, a coalition of native tribes, who are opposing the drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The movie shows the Gwich'in way of life, their spiritual connection to the land, and how they are resisting a policy that could lead to environmental devastation and the extinction of a unique community of animals, such as polar bears and caribou.

Another compelling storyline in this documentary is the one featuring Joel Clement, a former Department of Interior official who was reassigned after speaking out against his agency's policy to eliminate the advisory board that regulates offshore drilling safety. He is a whistleblower who reveals the corrupt practices of the Trump administration to open up public lands for oil and gas extraction, disregarding the risks of climate change and the public's health. His testimony is an example of the power of the citizen's voice to hold the government accountable for its actions.

The movie also introduces Angelo Baca, a Navajo filmmaker and cultural activist, who is fighting to protect the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. He represents the indigenous people of the region, who consider the land to be sacred and essential to their identity. The film follows his journey to document the cultural legacy of Bears Ears, the rock art, the ancestral sites, and the traditions of the Navajo tribe. He is also involved in a legal battle against the administration's decision to reduce the size of the monument by 85%, which would put at risk the archaeological treasures and the wildlife habitats of the area.

Public Trust shows the complexity of the conflicts surrounding public lands, featuring both the voices of the defenders and the opponents of the conservation efforts. The film includes interviews with politicians, scientists, ranchers, and environmentalists, who all have different views on how public lands should be managed. The directors strive to present a balanced view of the debate, but the tone of the film is clearly in favor of keeping public lands public and protecting them from exploitation.

The documentary is visually stunning, featuring breathtaking landscapes of the national parks, forests, and monuments. The camera captures the intimacy of the natural world and the human emotions of those who inhabit it. The music of the film is also a highlight, created by the composer Nathan Halpern, who infuses the scenes with an emotional depth that enhances the artistic quality of the documentary.

In conclusion, Public Trust is a must-watch film for anyone who cares about the future of the natural world and the role of citizens in shaping public policies. It is a powerful argument for why the protection of public lands is a fundamental right of democracy and a moral obligation of humanity. The movie inspires a sense of awe and wonder for the beauty and diversity of the American landscape while raising awareness of the urgent need to resist the forces that threaten it.

Public Trust is a 2021 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.4.