Once Upon a Tree

Eleven-year-old Filine's favorite tree stands in the middle of the woods: a huge old oak. She clambers up its sturdy branches to the top and looks out at the world. There's also plenty to see on the tree itself. Using a magnifying glass, she examines the lives of various insects and looks at the bark and moss on the branches. During her expeditions, the young nature lover notices that several trees have been cut down. She is very worried: will they cut down her favorite tree, too? And how can it be that, in just a few seconds, you can just cut down something that has taken so long to grow so big? What's more, these trees are home to countless animals and insects. Filine comes up with a creative plan to save the rest of her beloved woods from destruction. Director Marleen van der Werf films the young, elfin girl in her favorite places in the woods, a place she knows a huge amount about. Filine's adventure is accompanied by marvelous, detailed footage of all kinds of animals in their native habitats. The images reinforce the stories the young protagonist so passionately tells – about everything that lives in our wondrous, immensely important nature.