Direct Action

Bold portrait of a renowned activist movement that has been brutally opposed and labeled as eco-terrorists by the French state, whose ecological revolution is rooted in collective solidarity.

In 41 observational scenes, filmmakers Guillaume Cailleau and Ben Russell depict the life of the ZAD movement in Notre-Dame-des-Landes, western France. Members of ZAD, an acronym for “zone à défendre” (“zone to defend” in English), have created a kind of collective existence on land they have occupied since 2009. The site gained widespread attention in 2018 when, after years of struggle, they succeeded in halting the construction of an airport. Direct Action is a fascinating, bold, and eye-opening portrait of a way of life that goes beyond activism as it is often portrayed in the media, offering hopeful proof that change is possible. The film was awarded Best Film in the Encounters section at the Berlin Film Festival.

• Rasmus Kilander