Bidder 70 DVD Review

Bidder 70 opens with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.: “One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty.” This documentary tells the story of Tim DeChristopher, a student who disrupted a government auction for drilling rights to 150,000 acres of wilderness in southern Utah.

While opposition by numerous environmental groups had done nothing to halt this auction, DeChristopher found a way to disrupt the proceedings. He entered the building and was given a bidding card (number 70). He began winning parcels of land, with no intention of drilling, and with no way to pay for the land. For this action he was arrested. He was charged with two separate counts, which could give him a total of ten years in prison and a pretty hefty fine.

The auction action wasn’t a one-time stunt for Tim DeChristopher. It is one part of something much larger, working with the climate movement. The film follows both the trial and the movement simultaneously, an interesting way of showing how his action fits into the larger picture. Tim tells us, “You appreciate things a lot more once you’ve worked to defend them.”

While the film relies heavily on interviews with Tim DeChristopher, following him through the entire process, it also features interviews with many other people, including Robert Redford, several members of Peaceful Uprising, DeChristopher’s lawyers and Patrick Shea, former director Bureau of Land Management. (A title card informs us that all current staff of the Bureau of Land Management and Department of Interior declined to be interviewed for this film.)

The film does show us the land that he bid on, and it is absolutely gorgeous. There is also footage of Peaceful Uprising’s street theatre.

Of course, the trial itself comes to take center place in the film. It is originally scheduled for July 27, 2009, and then is postponed several times (to September 2009, March 2010, May 2010, September 2010 and then finally February 2011). Tim DeChristopher and his lawyers are denied by the judge the use of the selective prosecution defense (twenty-five other people over the past few years had won leases and not paid for them). Tim is offered a plea bargain which would still include some jail time. He turns it down, because he wants a jury to be involved.

Meanwhile, the auction itself is overturned. The government admits to wrong doing. Yet the trial goes ahead, which is completely insane. There is footage of the peaceful protest outside of the courthouse. Daryl Hannah says to the crowd, “This is the coolest protest I’ve ever been at because I’ve never seen so many people smiling.” And that really is at the heart of this documentary. It’s a very positive film, with an equally positive message: that one person can make a difference.

Interestingly, the documentary includes interviews with activists who have served time in prison – folks like David Harris, an anti-war activist. And he actually talks to Tim about prison. That is one of the things about this documentary that I really like: In addition to interviews conducted with many people, the film places several of those people together with Tim, and shows us their interactions. This works to actually bring us closer to Tim, and give us a stronger indication and feeling of what he’s going through, because he’s learning things just as we are over the course of the film. And the interview with Christine DeChristopher, Tim’s mother, helps give the background of Tim’s convictions, which is also important to help us understand how this act of civil disobedience came about.

Bonus Feature

The DVD includes a special feature, “Q&A with Tim DeChristopher.” This was shot after a screening of Bidder 70 in Salt Lake City. Tim is so eloquent. Check out what he has to say about the role of the jury in the legal system. This stuff is as interesting as the film itself, and I’m glad it’s included on the DVD.

Bidder 70 was directed by Beth Gage and George Gage. The film is out in theatres now. It will be available on DVD on July 16, 2013 through First Run Features.