Explosive Tales Unveiled: Unraveling the Intriguing Pipeline Plot

Summary

How to Blow Up a Pipeline is a radical climate thriller based on a true story and book, aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of climate change.

The film incorporates real-life stories and expertise from climate activists and pipeline experts, lending an authentic touch to the narrative.

Acting as a powerful catalyst, the movie urges individuals to take action and embrace more passionate and radical methods of activism to combat the challenges posed by climate change. Despite its contentious nature, it ignites discussions regarding this pressing global issue.

How To Blow Up A Pipeline is an engaging and unique film that centers around a courageous group of activists who are dedicated to combating climate change. Inspired by a true story and book, the movie, directed by Andreas Malm, is often described as a radical climate thriller that sheds light on an issue that is frequently overlooked. The storyline follows a group of young American individuals who refer to themselves as "terrorists." Their mission is to explode an oil pipeline in Texas, using this drastic action as a means to amplify their concerns and draw attention to the imminent dangers of climate change. The film serves as a powerful portrayal of the urgency for change and aims to inspire passionate activists to take more assertive measures. Despite initially raising eyebrows due to its unconventional themes, How To Blow Up A Pipeline has received an impressive 94 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating its positive reception among audiences.

This film serves as a passionate plea for action from director Andreas Malm, who possesses a deep-felt drive to combat climate change. Filmed within a span of just 22 days in New Mexico and North Dakota, the movie was a labor of love for Malm. However, the story behind the film had been dwelling within him for a considerable period of time. In fact, it was inspired by a book that Malm wrote in 2021, drawing extensively from his own real-life endeavors to effect change.

How To Blow Up A Pipeline Is Inspired By Andreas Malm's 2021 Nonfiction Book

In 2021, a book titled How To Blow Up A Pipeline: Learning to Fight in a World on Fire was written by Swedish professor Andreas Malm. This book is known for its radical approach and serves as an argument advocating for the use of sabotage as a form of environmental activism. It is important to note that it is not intended as an instruction manual but rather as a reflection of the author's own actions and efforts to combat climate change. Divided into three parts, namely "Learning from Past Struggles," "Breaking the Spell," and "Fighting Despair," Malm shares his personal journey in climate activism and provides recommendations to others.

How To Blow Up A Pipeline Pulls From Experiences By Real Climate Activists & Pipeline Experts

In the first section of Malm's book, titled "Learning from Past Struggles," he delves deeply into his personal history of peaceful climate activism. By sharing his own experiences, he eventually advocates for climate activists to adopt more radical methods, such as targeting CO2-emitting devices. The book's final section, "Fighting Despair," serves as a powerful call to action for authentic climate activists, further promoting radical activism. These experiences and messages are authentically portrayed in the film, adding a real-life dimension to its non-fiction narrative.

Furthermore, the filmmakers themselves have compelling stories that influenced the creation of the film. For instance, Daniel Goldhaber, who serves as the director, co-writer, and producer of "How To Blow Up A Pipeline," grew up witnessing his parents' involvement in the field and hearing about the future impact of climate change. His frustration at the lack of significant change following his work on the 2012 documentary "Chasing Ice," which focused on the disintegration of glaciers, fueled his passion for taking a more radical approach in this film.

Another member of the group of filmmakers, Jordan Sjol, grew up in rural Wyoming, where he noticed that the glacial lakes he used to climb on every year as a child were gradually diminishing in size. Eventually, he witnessed their near disappearance. As for Ariela Barer, she is the youngest filmmaker in the team and was raised in Los Angeles by a mother who strongly advocated for environmental preservation. While at Disneyland one day, Barer overheard an adult exclaiming that the planet was dying, a statement that haunted her ever since and fueled her determination to bring about real change. In addition to drawing from their personal experiences, the team also dedicated two months to conducting interviews with climate activists and pipeline experts to gain insights from their experiences in the field.

Theo's Leukemia Diagnosis Is Inspired By Writer-Actor Ariela Barer's Friend

Clarissa Thibeaux, the aforementioned credited consultant, is a friend of writer-actor Ariela Barer, renowned for her role in Marvel's Runaways. Thibeaux possesses a thorough understanding of the real-life issues depicted in the film. Having been diagnosed with leukemia and having grown up near a chemical plant, she can personally relate to the struggles showcased. Her own experiences inspired the creation of Theo's character in the film. Theo resides in a city heavily impacted by pollution due to the presence of multiple oil refineries. Battling leukemia herself, she finds motivation to rally her friends and take more assertive action towards environmental protection.

How To Blow Up A Pipeline Takes Inspiration From Jessica Reznicek & Ruby Montoya's Real Imprisonment

How To Blow Up A Pipeline draws inspiration from the real-life experiences of two women, Jessica Reznicek and Ruby Montoya. These women were imprisoned for acts of terrorism after vandalizing the Dakota Access Pipeline using an acetylene torch. Jessica, an activist associated with the Catholic Worker Movement, collaborated with Ruby to target construction sites linked to the pipeline. Besides damaging pipeline valves across Iowa with torches, the duo also set a bulldozer ablaze. The resulting damages from these incidents amounted to approximately $2.5 million. Both women took responsibility for their actions and faced multiple felony charges in 2019.

Controversial as it may be, How To Blow Up A Pipeline successfully achieved a portion of Malm and the filmmakers' objective - to initiate conversations about climate change. The ultimate aim was to fuel more fervent forms of activism, and any accounts of whether the film has incited further radical actions from climate activists remain unconfirmed. Despite dissenting opinions on the film's radicalization message, it offered a thought-provoking perspective, lent a voice to those affected, and enabled viewers to witness the tangible consequences of climate change on individuals.