The Wild Heart of Red Rock 1999
Distributed by The Video Project, 375 Alabama, Suite 490, San Francisco, CA 94110; 800-4-PLANET
Produced by Doug Prose and Diane LaMacchia of Earth Images Foundation
Director n/a
VHS, color, 27 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Environmental Studies
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Brad Eden, Ph.D., Head, Web and Digitization Services, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las VegasThis film deals with the Red Rock area of Utah, hundreds of miles of wilderness area that lies open to exploitation because it is not currently protected by the United States government. The purpose of the film is to relate information regarding the exploitation of this land, provide interviews with experts and environmentalists, and promote the designation of these areas as wilderness by the National Wilderness Preservation System. Open pit mining, overranged pasturelands, and SUV/offroad vehicle use is currently damaging and destroying these lands. Some history regarding Indians, the people of Utah, miners, cattlemen, and sheepmen are given to illustrate both sides of the issue. Road development, future dam construction, and land destruction by speculators is in the future of these wilderness areas, unless they are protected by the government. A focus on tourism and visitors to these areas is given near the end of the video.
This film is for all levels of audience. The bias towards preservation and environmentalism is strong in this video, and may dissuade and even aggravate viewers. The documentation of the Red Rock wilderness is stunning and spectacular, but the message again tends to be one-sided and biased. I recommend this film as an example of how preservationists and environmentalists use film to present their message. It is not really a wildlife or nature film, but rather an example of the use of media to affect changes in viewpoints and opinions.