Bidder 70

Bidder 70 is an inspiring and engaging documentary released in 2012, centered around one man's brave act of civil disobedience in the name of environmental activism. This film brings the audience into the heart of a pivotal moment in the modern environmental movement, offering a unique perspective on direct-action activism and the multitude of repercussions and social reverberations that follow.

Tim DeChristopher, whose actions form the central event of this documentary, is a man who wears many hats: economics student, mountain guide, and, perhaps most importantly, fearless environmentalist. Catapulted into the public eye amidst a time of political and environmental turmoil, DeChristopher displays an unwavering commitment to the preservation and protection of the environment that is enshrined in his beliefs and subsequently, his actions.

DeChristopher's iconic moment comes in 2008 amidst the final days of the Bush administration. At a controversial auction for oil and gas leases on 150,000 acres of pristine Utah wilderness lands, DeChristopher enters the room as Bidder 70. What follows is an audacious and spontaneous move that changes the course of the auction and sets DeChristopher on a journey that will forever alter his destiny.

Strategically, he begins to bid against oil and gas companies for the land parcels. However, DeChristopher has no financial backing, a reality that threatens significant personal, legal, and financial consequences. This act of defiance shakes the cavernous auction room as well as the highest echelons of the government and the oil and gas industry. It simultaneously cements DeChristopher's name in the annals of environmental protest history and labels him a threat in the eyes of the industrial behemoths.

This film is not merely a dissection of a single act of non-violent dissent; it is a portrait of a man who believed he had a moral obligation to disrupt a system that he viewed as destructive and unjust. This documentary showcases the unwavering moral backbone of DeChristopher, his unyielding stand against environmental destruction, and his belief in his ability to create significant waves of change.

The directors of Bidder 70, Beth and George Gage, successfully paint an intimate portrait of DeChristopher, documenting his thought processes, emotional turmoil, and the immense pressure applied by the oil and gas industry and the government. Combining interviews, news footage, and video diaries, the audience is offered a raw and unfiltered account of this event and its ensuing developments.

Furthermore, the Gages also embed a larger discourse in the documentary exploring the context of escalating climate issues and the role of direct action in the environmental movement. By using DeChristopher as a focal point, the directors effectively probe into the efficacy of such tactics and the extent to which an individual's self-sacrifice can incite good in society.

The extremity and impact of DeChristopher's actions give Bidder 70 its narrative thrust. Still, at its core, the film is fundamentally an exploration of the ethics of environmental preservation. It lays ground for discussions around the climate crisis, the ethical boundaries of direct action, and the pivotal role of activism in effecting social change in a world of knotted political and corporate interests.

Bidder 70 is ultimately a testament to the power of the individual to stand up for the earth before it's too late and the collective inertia that tragically often prevails against it. It provides a stark and powerful reminder of just how sprawling and relentless the forces of environmental destruction truly are, but also illuminates the bravery and determination of those willing to stand against them.

Unfolding on a human and political scale, Bidder 70 manages to be equally poignant for its quiet character study of courage and principle as it is for its overarching commentary on the boundaries of protest and the desperate need for comprehensive environmental policy reform. This stirring documentary is likely to leave viewers deep in thought, evaluating their own roles in the global struggle to safeguard our planet's future.