How the simple act of women planting trees changed a nation

80 minutes and 54 minutes

Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai tells the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into The Green Belt Movement, a nationwide campaign to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracy. The film follows Maathai’s courageous thirty-year struggle against deforestation, poverty, and political repression.

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Viewer Comments:

Part of the acclaimed PBS-aired Independent Lens series, Taking Root tells the story of Wangari Maathai, the university professor and political activist who became a Nobel Peace Prize-winning leader of an ecological movement in Kenya….The uplifting narrative is nicely backed by gorgeous camerawork and an original soundtrack from African musician Samite.
– Video Librarian Review

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.
— Frances Moore Lappé, American author and cofounder Small Planet Institute

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, author, theologian and cultural historian

Taking Root is a wonderful film, which both informs and inspires in the best of ways.
— Sean Farnell, Director of Programming, Hot Docs International Film Festival

Festivals and Awards:

The film has been screened at over 40 festivals world wide and also aired on the PBS series Independent Lens in April 2009. It is now available for educational institutions, community organizations and home viewing. For more information on the film, visit takingrootfilm.com.

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Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, April 2008, Durham, North Carolina
Full Frame Women in Leadership Award
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, April 2008, Toronto, Canada
Audience Award Winner
Maui Film Festival – June 2008, Maui, Hawaii
Green Cinema Award
Durban International Film Festival, July-August 2008, Durban, South Africa
Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award
Vermont International Film Festival, October 2008, Burlington, Vermont
The Harold & Margaret Blank Award for Storytelling
Asheville Film Festival, November 2008
Best Documentary
Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire de Montréal, November 2008, Montréal, Canada
Prix ÉcoCaméra 2008 Prix du Public 2008
International Images Film Festival for Women, February 2009, Zimbabwe
Best Documentary
Council on Foundations, May 2009
Henry Hampton Award for Film and Digital Media 2009
Green International Film Festival, May 21 – 27, 2009, Seoul, Korea
Audience Award
Mendocino Film Festival, May 29 – 31, 2009
Best Documentary Audience Award