(spoiler free)
There are many important and insightful documentaries about environmentalism; it’s an issue that’s become inescapable in recent years, and rightfully so. However, beyond the over-the-top disaster movies and the legal dramas based on true stories, there aren’t many narrative features devoted to the subject, at least ones that feel grounded in reality. Daniel Goldhaber’s How to Blow Up a Pipeline is about to change that.
Based on Andreas Malm’s book of the same name, Goldhaber’s film follows eight young people who, as the title suggest, decide to blow up a pipeline. On its most basic level the film excels as a heist. Whilst this isn’t a robbery, the way the plot unfolds has all the trademarks of the genre: assembling the team, outlining the mission and carrying out the plan. As this kind of film it’s a thrilling watch, becoming truly exhilarating in all the right moments. Gavin Brivik’s score is an asset in achieving this. On occasion its sound has echoes of Ludwig Göransson’s work on Christopher Nolan’s Tenet. However Brivik’s score is far more subtle, creating a more realistic tone for this eco-thriller.
Another vital factor in grounding the film in realism is its cast. Among them are Ariela Barer (who also co-writes), Sasha Lane, Forrest Goodluck and Jake Weary. Each of them delivers a thoroughly lived in performance, and valuably contributes to the plausibility of the premise. The film gets straight into the action as we see the group arrive in West Texas, the location of their targeted pipeline. Whilst the film documents the hours preceding their mission, it also gradually introduces us to each of the characters; taking us back to before their plan was in place. It’s in these sections that we get to know each of the characters in more detail and learn about their motives for becoming involved. Watching the group get closer to completing their goal is gripping, but understanding what has moved them to do so is just as interesting.
The reason for this interest is of course because the issues these characters discuss and drive them to act are so connected to the real world. The relevance this story has to the state of the environmentalism right now increases the film’s stakes and demands more attention of its audience. The difference in opinions within the group are representative of the debates on how to combat this change in real life. Many of these arguments are easy to sympathise with, yet some will raise concerns too. This creates a compelling discussion that both informs the characters’ actions and gives the film all the more weight.
Goldhaber’s How to Blow Up a Pipeline is a call to action. It holds within it a clear and direct message about environmentalism, who’s to blame and the level of undertaking needed to combat it. It’s delivered by way of a fun, stimulating and provocative eco-thriller that’s just as admirable as its cause. And ultimately, this synergy makes it an explosive cinematic event that’s as entertaining as it is essential.
Written by Hamish Calvert
★★★★
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