Arresting Science. Good Docs: Documentaries that do GOOD in the world. An image of four scientists in labcoats chained to bank doors. Close-up of Dr. Peter Kalmus chained to door. Climate stripes.


“A great access film, and Kalmus is an emotive communicator.” 

Exec Producer, The Guardian

WATCH THE TRAILER


ABOUT THE FILM


ARRESTING SCIENCE is a 23-minute documentary depiction of one scientist’s rebellion.

Dr. Peter Kalmus, an impassioned NASA Earth Scientist, rebels against the system and commits his first act of civil disobedience in downtown Los Angeles. Targeting fossil fuel financiers, he’s joined by a few other experienced activists and a spirited group of supporters. The police respond en masse, and the world takes notice via social media.

ARRESTING SCIENCE is a rare insider take on a daring climate action, detailing the tactics and determination of those who are taking great risks to save life on earth.

The film highlights the work of other leading Scientist Rebellion and Extinction Rebellion activists, including Daryl Hannah, Sim Bilal, Allan Chornack, Eric Gill, Lydia Ponce, Greg Spooner and Steven Starr. Iconic musician Neil Young contributed an unreleased version of his protest anthem, After the Gold Rush, which plays over the credits.

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ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS


HOLLY BECKER – PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

 In addition to ARRESTING SCIENCE, Holly is finishing a feature documentary entitled GREAT POWER.  With Carey McKenzie, she co-directed THE CRISIS SCIENTISTS, a short group portrait of seven inspiring climate scientists and scholars.   She has produced many critically acclaimed docs, including BRING YOUR OWN BRIGADE, CITY OF GOLD, THE SOURCE FAMILY, and ORIGINAL CHILD BOMB.  Previously, Holly was SVP of production for Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, and VP of production for IFC Entertainment. In her decade at IFC, she was an executive producer on many distinctive films, including Miranda July’s ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW. She has been a production consultant for UK- based Film4; a programmer for the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival; and a creative consultant for the Sundance Institute and Lincoln Center.



“My mother is a lifelong activist, so I fully appreciate the risks, rewards and challenges of civil disobedience. It’s incredible to me that scientists in the 21st century are resorting to strategies of the marginalized to try to get people to face facts about climate change.  I share Peter’s alarm for our endangered planet, and intend to keep documenting those who are fighting to save it.”


CAREY MCKENZIE – PRODUCER

Carey McKenzie co-directed and produced THE CRISIS SCIENTISTS with Holly.  Other recent work as a screenwriter and director includes a feature adaptation of Joan Didion’s political romance, DEMOCRACY, and an episode of the Netflix Marseille , TRANSATLANTIC. She wrote and directed COLD HARBOUR, a South African crime thriller, which opened the New York African Film Festival at Lincoln Center, and streamed worldwide on Netflix. Carey directed ORIGINAL CHILD BOMB, an art documentary about the human cost of nuclear weapons which premiered at Tribeca, won the grand jury prize at Silverdocs, and aired on the Sundance Channel. Carey has a masters in English from Cambridge and an MFA in film from NYU, where she was awarded the Carl Lerner scholarship.


We work with Good Docs on educational distribution for ARRESTING SCIENCE.  If you are interested in purchasing or streaming the film for an educational institution — universities, four-year colleges, high schools, community colleges, nonprofits/community groups, for-profits/corporations, museums, public libraries — please visit this website for more information. 

You can also contact Good Docs directly at outreach@gooddocs.net with any questions about buying the film.


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future public or activist screenings  of ARRESTING SCIENCE. 

Filmstrip showing five images: 1) scientists in labcoats chained to bank doors, 2) Native American spokeswoman, 3) protesters with raised fists, holding sign that says "I am the earth. I want to live." 4) Scientist in labcoat holding a megaphone, 5) close-up of hands chained to bank doors.

Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island emphasizes nonviolent direct action to confront climate change and preserve a livable planet.