This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The thoughtful documentary "Bidder 70" sheds new light on a recent chapter of Utah history — and of the evolution of an activist's voice.
The events are familiar to Utahns: How Tim DeChristopher, a University of Utah student and environmental activist, protested a late 2008 Bureau of Land Management auction of oil and gas leases by bidding — and how he got nearly two years in federal prison on fraud charges because his continued speechmaking ticked off the judge.
Filmmakers Beth and George Gage put DeChristopher's activism in a larger perspective with interviews from notable voices such as author Terry Tempest Williams and actor Robert Redford. The Gages also get up-close-and-personal access to DeChristopher, detailing how the time spent awaiting trial helped him hone his voice and fuel his mission.
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'Bidder 70'
Opens Friday, May 10, at the Tower Theatre; not rated, but probably PG-13 for language and mature themes; 72 minutes.