In 2005, federal agents invaded Daniel McGowan's workplace - a domestic violence center - and arrested him for being part of the Earth Liberation Front, an "eco-defense" group responsible for several acts of arson on lumber yards, paper companies, and bio labs. The shelter was run by the wife of documentary filmmaker Marshall Curry, who took an interest in Daniel's case and the history of the Earth Liberation Front. As Daniel serves a seven month long term of house arrest at his sister's home while his lawyers and the government build their cases, he learns that several of his co-defendants have taken plea deals to testify against each other for reduced sentences. Facing multiple life sentences, Daniel must decide between taking a plea or being branded a terrorist. Subtitled "a story of the Earth Liberation Front," Daniel's present storyline is intercut with a look back at the development of the Earth Liberation Front, citing events that were influential on Daniel's transition from Catholic school graduate/business major/PR company employee to peaceful protester to radical environmentalist. The story is filled out by people connected to Daniel's case: his resilient sister and father, his girlfriend (later wife), his ex-girlfriend (also one of his co-defendants), environmentalists (including filmmaker Tim Lewis), the FBI agent who arrested Daniel, the district attorney, as well as those who lost property to the arson attacks. The film also depicts the split between environmentalists for systemic change and those frustrated and alienated by violent police response to initially non-violent protest (and, sometimes, the system's failure to work within the system when capital is involved). While McGowan's story is undoubtedly moving, the filmmakers are not telling the story of an innocent drawn into a crazy cult or an idealist set up by the government (McGowan admits that he lacked forethought, and his sister's gentle but chiding remarks suggest that this is somewhat symptomatic of his personality). It is, as the filmmakers say themselves, a cautionary tale about considering the ramifications of radical action (while depicting the circumstances that cleaved the environmental movement, and subsequently eroded the ELF). The environmentalists (both moderate and radical) are forthcoming about the effects of their own self-righteousness on the dialogue, and the McGowan admits that the issues were lost in the understandable public focus on the property damage (no humans were ever hurt in any of the ELF-attributed acts of arson). The film is not without its faults. In an effort to present a balanced perspective on all sides, the filmmakers - in assessing the effectiveness of the finished product - save their "althoughs" and "buts" in response to certain statements made by participants for the commentary track. They use contrasting interview clips to argue about the "terrorist" label, but - in their effort to not "Michael Moore" the subjects - they may have been too non-confrontational during the interviews. The subject of the film certainly begs follow-up (besides an update from Daniel when his sentence is up - and a follow-up on Jake Ferguson, who reportedly got himself into more trouble after walking away from his crimes by snitching - the divides among the groups of environmentalists in Eugene, Oregon (which has been host to other self-created problems in recent years) deserves a film unto itself.