Above All Else

Above All Else is an American documentary film released in 2014. Directed by documentarian John Fiege, the film features landowners and activists, including Julia Trigg Crawford, David Daniel, and Eleanor Fairchild. The movie centers around their tireless struggle as they dared to oppose the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline across their lands. In the course of the film, the narratives of these central characters expose broader themes of imminent environmental concerns, the clash between private lands and corporate intentions, and a resolute fight for justice.

At the heart of the narrative is David Daniel, an East Texas landowner, and former highwire artist. He's a dawn-to-dusk, ordinary working American man, until he's rudely awakened to find survey stakes marked across his land. They're the first signs of TransCanada's intentions to build a pipeline stretching from Alberta, Canada, to the refineries of the Texas Gulf Coast. In essence, these stakes symbolize not only a trespass on his land but also a threat to his dreams, his family's safety, and his local environment. This realization evolves David into an unlikely activist, who takes up the daunting challenge of environmental conservation.

Julia Trigg Crawford is another Texan landowner and manager of a 600-acre farmstead. Her appearance in the narrative marks a matriarchal endeavor to protect her inherited ancestral land from the corporate invasion. Her involvement in the fight becomes personal as her land is integral to her family history and heritage, which she vehemently resists degrading into an oil passage.

Eleanor Fairchild's participation adds another emotional layer to Above All Else. As an elder woman, she embodies the common folk's spirit, asserting their rights against corporate sharks despite the apparent power imbalance. Her tumultuous battle with legal bureaucracy and corporate bullying make for poignant viewing.

Capturing the David vs. Goliath narrative in a real-world setting, Fiege's film maintains a core focus on the human beings involved in the saga, their shared and individual experiences, their motivations, and the impacts of the pipeline on their lives. Starkly contrasted to these personal stories is the machinery of corporate maneuvering and government apathy, providing a grim backdrop to their struggle. Apart from this, the movie also beautifully showcases the Texan landscape, the same land that these small landowners are striving to protect, serving a visual reminder of what's at stake in this fight.

Above All Else dives deep into the lives of these characters who live the reality of what's essentially an environmental debate for many. This direct human element delivers compelling viewing and brings viewers closer to understanding the consequences of big corporations' actions on everyday lives. While there's an undercurrent of struggle and resistance throughout, the film never loses its inherent humanity, often showcasing lighter moments and displaying the tenacity of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.

This film also explores the broader implications of the issue at hand, namely climate change and environmental conservation. The Keystone XL pipeline, meant for transporting crude oil, is not merely an environmental concern for a localized area but has significant implications globally. Through this microcosm of struggle, Above All Else unveils the macro reality of earth's pressing environmental crises, forcing viewers to confront and ponder over these realities.

Overall, Fiege's Above All Else is a much-needed tribute to grassroots activism and the often-ignored human side of environmental consequences. More than just providing documentation, this film champions the cause of ordinary people who rise against extraordinary odds to protect what is rightfully theirs. It's a poignant and gripping exploration of the landowners' stand-off with corporate greed. Through a captivating storytelling style that is intimate, personal yet universally relevant, Above All Else is a stark portrayal of brave individuals who dare to say 'no' and stand up for their homes, their lands, and the environment.