"We have just completed the month-long book tour [The Challenge for Africa] and … hardly was there a place we went that people did not mention Taking Root. It has been a wonderful project… I hope the film will continue to inspire people across the globe especially as the message is so fitting for our time."
Wangari Maathai
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Founder of the Green Belt Movement,
and subject of Taking Root: The
Vision of Wangari Maathai
"[Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai] portrays a woman’s fight against all odds not to be a
victim in her own natural environment. Indeed, ‘the tree woman’ and her initiative of planting trees led to
the emancipation of women in her community. Through this act, she became the epitome of success and a
role model of an enriching woman."
read more...
Jury,
International Images Film Festival for Women,
Zimbabwe upon presenting the Best Documentary
Award
"Taking Root underscores the critical importance of education to a social movement. It portrays a vision of education that is not about changing people’s heads, but ultimately changing the conditions under which people live. We can talk in the classroom about education for social change, but this extraordinary film provides a model for change that engages and inspires. It is worth a hundred hours of classroom talk...both the film and the woman are truly extraordinary!"
Dr. Thomas Heaney,
Adult & Continuing Education
National-Louis University
"The film exceeds even my high
hopes. [Taking Root] is much more than a moving
tribute to Wangari Maathai, although it certainly
is that. It captures the transformative potential
of "regular people" finding their voices. It proves
that courage is contagious.
read
more...
Frances Moore Lappé
"The latest in a spate of films
about strong African females and their impact on
the political landscape, Lisa Merton and Alan Dater's
Kenyan "Taking Root," like Ginny Reticker's "Pray
the Devil Back to Hell," attests to the seismic
changes wrought by women of different religions
and ethnicities working together. Docu bears witness
as indomitable Nobel Peace Prize-winner Wangari
Maathai reverses a century of ecological, cultural
and social devastation by simply planting trees,
giving grassroots activism new meaning. Lucid,
lovingly crafted pic, which won the audience award
at Hot Docs, has a shot at niche play before flourishing
in ancillary.
read
more...
Ronnie Scheib
Variety
www.variety.com
"'Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai' is an astounding film, capturing for years and populations to come the life and work of one of history's most extraordinary women, one in whose living presence we are blessed to share."
Thomas Berry
Geologian and Cultural Historian
Author, The Dream of the Earth
"Lisa Merton and Alan Dater’s documentary
shows how one person can change the face of the
Earth, giving environmentalism and activism a face
other than Al Gore or Michael Moore.
read
more...
Brian Miles
Nashville Scene
"Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari
Maathai" stood out for, among other things, its
demonstration of the transformative impact that
the weakest members of even poor societies can
sometimes have, using the limited means at their
disposal in creative and committed ways.
read
more...
Coral Vinsen
"Wangari Maathai is much more than
the first African woman to receive the Noble Peace
Prize. She is the embodiment and promise of the
global environmental justice movement. Taking Root:
The Vision of Wangari Maathai evokes images of
majestic mountains, divine trees, Mau Mau 'freedom
army' and Social Justice for Kenyan women.
read
more...
Nehanda Imara
"At a time, when there is a dearth
of optimism about the state of our planet, this
upbeat documentary offers hope and light.
read
more...
Rebort on www.iofilm.co.uk
"…[Wangari Maathai's] personality fills the screen and easily holds the viewer's interest…Her struggles and eventual triumph are the heart of this film…It would be hard to imagine a more inspirational story…"
William Morancy
The Montpelier Bridge
"['Taking Root' is] a wonderful film, which both informs and inspires in the best of ways. Given our programmers passionate response to the film, and to Wangari, we were quite confident that Taking Root would be beloved by the Hot Docs audience."
Sean Farnell
Director of Programming
Hot Doc International Film Festival
"I saw it yesterday and I’ve already told eight people about it. Amazing what one person engaging others can do."
"…An amazing job of integrating the information on Kenyan history, the devastating impact of colonialism and the power of grassroots dedication."
"…A simply astonishing film…a beautiful, moving, empowering and provocative work."
"[Taking Root] kept a focus that informs and inspires…a good glimpse of a courageous woman who understands the nature of grassroots organizing."
©2008 Marlboro Productions Lisa Merton and Alan Dater website by irislines.com