Grow(ing) Up: 'Giants Rising' | Green Film Festival of San Francisco 2024
No, this is not a PBS show. Though I can understand that confusion.
Dear Moviegoers,
I don’t get the dismissal of nature that some people have. Remember how in the first Avatar movie, the corporate representative in charge of pulling resources from Pandora, laughs at the scientists who state how the trees are alive. “They’re just trees!!!!” Indeed they are, however…
Giants Rising covers the ins and outs of Coast Redwoods, a particularly strong and resilient kind of tree that grows incredibly tall (one is bigger than the Statue of Liberty), found along the California coast. Every facet of their existence, from the psychological impact they have on people to the genetic mapping of the trees themselves, Giants Rising is an encyclopedia in motion and is maybe the best of the best at it. Artists, indigenous people, conservationists, park rangers, and regular people come together to bark their tales and take root in everyone everywhere.
If I were an elementary school student, watching this movie on a rainy day in class, I’d be both excited for the time off, and intrigued by the history and the fascinating science behind these Redwoods—seriously. True, I was a quiet nerd-ish kid growing up, but Giants Rising held my attention now and likely would’ve piqued my interest then. For the other kids though, there would be shenanigans throughout. But that’s ok, as children behave like that. As adults?
While the movie handles the subject of Redwoods with precision and clarity, providing a comfortable amount of information and personality, it does move along like a public channel documentary, with slightly better than elevator music, occasional stock footage, constant pleadings for preservation, and over-explanatory bits of data. Thorough, but a little much at times.
In no way is Giants Rising trying to talk down to and patronize anyone, but it does great in making sure that every aspect of the Redwoods’ majesty is fully studied and captured. Mission accomplished, I say.
Indeed, they aren’t “just trees,” but complex and living creatures, older than old and wiser than the best of us all. Count the rings. 3/5
Giants Rising screened at the 2024 Green Film Festival of San Francisco.
Based on the title, I hoped this is a barely-known indie flick (never heard about it) with some atmospheric outdoor scenes and poignant connection to nature. I grew to love documentaries over the years, but reading your review, this gives me the impression that it's dry and dull as hell. But as you wrote, if someone's into this kind of doc... I'm sure it works to some degree.