UNDERSTORY: A Journey Through The Tongass (TRAILER)

“Understory” is a short film that takes us deep into Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, the largest remaining temperate rainforest on the planet. Our guide, Elsa Sebastian, is a young local fisherman who grew up “off-grid” in a remote village surrounded by the vast, ancient forest. When Elsa learns that the U.S. federal government is axing environmental protections for nine million acres of the Tongass, she is driven to action--first fixing up an old sailboat, and then setting sail on a 350-mile expedition along the rainforest's coast.

Elsa is joined by Dr. Natalie Dawson, a biologist who has spent decades studying Alaska's wildlife, and artist Mara Menahan. For a month the team documents old-growth trees threatened by logging, witnesses the dark aftermath of clearcuts, visits streams teeming with salmon, and learns about indigenous cultural connections to the Tongass. As Elsa, Natalie, and Mara personally and directly face the devastating impacts of the timber industry on the old growth forest, they struggle to hold onto hope. With the end of their journey comes the realization that saving our last ancient rainforests is more urgent than they could have imagined.

Director Colin Arisman deftly unpacks and presents the story of greed and mis-guided government management that has defined decades of logging in the Tongass. Through breathtaking cinematography and poignant personal experience, Understory makes the case that saving ancient forests like the Tongass is critical to both the resilience of humans and the future of our planet’s climate.

[cigan]

Had the full video been removed? The link is no longer valid 😟

[TheFuzzyskwerl]

Amazing. Love the fact you are spreading awareness.

[lweberhard]

This is exactly what we need to see - most Americans do not have any idea what is happening to our old growth forests. It would be enough for us to try to preserve species, but as importantly, the old growth trees are the most important in terms of carbon sequestration. We all need to see this.

[matthieunogueron]

Too bad it's now private... Such documentary should be made available at all time to show the real face of our industries!

[ruskin]

very emotionally moving videography; well done. Is there another video that talks about both sides...the need to manage and how to balance the resource?

[StonedAlone]

Hell yeah the visuals look fantastic on this!! Love that minimalist color grade

[Sofie]

It’s not only ‘don’t touch the tongass’. It’s also ‘save the world, save the planet’.

[davehconner]

I see that this film can no longer simply be watched freely. But you can buy an e-ticket to watch it. Green movement indeed, but not the kind of green I was expecting.

[AndersDK]

Imagine all of the unique species in this place! It must be an absolute biodiversity powerhouse, don't touch it! 🤠

[christophegamelin]

We need more than help - they are killing our planet - they are slaughtering the humanity !!!

[hajoprecht]

Who the heck setteled in the Brains only to go for mony...
Get a new mindset for preserving woods, endangered animals, the whole nature where it exists widely untouched yet.
Covid should have given us a clearer view upon the real things that matter...
And to actively work for our natural resources as a requirement for the survival of mankind ...

[btingey]

The very people so upset about what is happening to our natural environment are the ones causing the damage with their misguided political beliefs. Blaming others solves nothing, each of us is the problem.