Urban Forests
While green spaces have long been neglected in cities, community-led efforts in recent years have helped restore the many benefits of urban forests. Through a number of innovative nature restoration projects in cities across Canada—from Montreal to Vancouver, via Toronto, Laval, Varennes, and New Westminster—this documentary explores initiatives aimed at bringing nature back into the urban environment.
| Director | Anne-Marie Rocher |
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As I write these lines, huge, deafening machines are pulling into the alley behind my apartment. What terrible timing! A tree is under attack by a crew of arborists! We’re right in the middle of the film’s subject: preserving trees in urban environments.
Rather classic in style, the film doesn’t so much challenge that awful distance modernity has created between us and nature. Instead, it introduces us to tree lovers—from Vancouver to Montreal—who are trying to preserve green spaces in urban environments.
Meanwhile… the chainsaw keeps going. The target is the Manitoba maple in my alley. Often mistakenly considered a “bad tree” because it grows spontaneously, it is actually one of the dominant species in Montréal. Birds nest in it; I hear them singing early in the morning.
The noise stops. I fear the worst. I go outside to check: they’ve only cut half the tree. What a relief!
In its own way, this film contributes to our attachment to trees.
Sylvie Lapointe
Filmmaker
-
Français
1h35
Language: Français -
English
1h35
Language: English
- Année 2024
- Pays Quebec
- Durée 95
- Producteur Productions Testa, ONF / NFB
- Langue French, English
- Sous-titres French, English
- Résumé court From Montreal to Vancouver, community-led initiatives are bringing nature back to cities and transforming our relationship with urban spaces.
- Ordre 3
- TLF_Applismb_CA 1
- Date édito CA 2026-08-21
As I write these lines, huge, deafening machines are pulling into the alley behind my apartment. What terrible timing! A tree is under attack by a crew of arborists! We’re right in the middle of the film’s subject: preserving trees in urban environments.
Rather classic in style, the film doesn’t so much challenge that awful distance modernity has created between us and nature. Instead, it introduces us to tree lovers—from Vancouver to Montreal—who are trying to preserve green spaces in urban environments.
Meanwhile… the chainsaw keeps going. The target is the Manitoba maple in my alley. Often mistakenly considered a “bad tree” because it grows spontaneously, it is actually one of the dominant species in Montréal. Birds nest in it; I hear them singing early in the morning.
The noise stops. I fear the worst. I go outside to check: they’ve only cut half the tree. What a relief!
In its own way, this film contributes to our attachment to trees.
Sylvie Lapointe
Filmmaker
-
Français
Duration: 1h35Language: Français1h35 -
English
Duration: 1h35Language: English1h35
- Année 2024
- Pays Quebec
- Durée 95
- Producteur Productions Testa, ONF / NFB
- Langue French, English
- Sous-titres French, English
- Résumé court From Montreal to Vancouver, community-led initiatives are bringing nature back to cities and transforming our relationship with urban spaces.
- Ordre 3
- TLF_Applismb_CA 1
- Date édito CA 2026-08-21
