Carleton graduate David York said he was first drawn to Wiebo Ludwig because he was fascinated with the man who the media portrayed as a devious eco-terrorist, after being convicted of bombing several gas drilling sites in Alberta in 2001.
“I went in . . . with the view that you inherit from the daily press coverage of this charismatic, manipulative guy, potentially a cult leader,” said York, a communications graduate.
But after spending time living on the Ludwig family farm, York said his view began to change. The result: Wiebo’s War, a documentary on Ludwig’s life, which premiered in Ottawa at the Mayfair Theatre Oct. 14.
York now describes Ludwig as “a very complex man,” and one of the brightest people he’s ever met. He said he didn’t understand the depth of the family’s struggles before filming the documentary.
The Ludwigs lived with problems caused by the natural gas drilling on their farm, which had been installed against their will. These problems included livestock deaths, health issues, miscarriages and stillbirths, York said.
Ludwig tried to fight the oil and gas industry peacefully for five years, before eventually sabotaging it, York said.
The worst things York said he witnessed while living with the Ludwigs were the stillbirths and miscarriages.
He described the women who went through these as “damaged. . . traumatized . . . strong and determined.”
After witnessing the family’s struggles, York said he found it harder to judge their actions.
“I don’t support bombings, but then again, I didn’t live downwind of the oil and gas industry for 10 years. I didn’t see five of my family members deliver stillborn babies.”
One challenge York said he faced prior to filming was earning the family’s trust. The Ludwig family is very religious and were skeptical at first as to whether an atheist director could accurately tell their story, he said.
Almost a year later, York managed to convince the family he just wanted to give them the opportunity to tell their story, he said.
York said he was surprised to learn how far reaching the impact of the oil and gas industry was on people’s lives.
“I didn’t realize people’s lives and welfare could be trampled so easily and they would have so little recourse,” he said.
York said he wants the audience to take a deeper look Ludgwig’s character and the circumstances he and his family lived with.
“My hope is that the audience will have the means to independently arrive at a judgment as to whether they’re sympathetic with [Ludwig],” he said.
The film conveys the horrific reality of living on a natural gas site and the powerlessness of citizens to stand against the oil and gas Goliath, York said.
York encourages the audience to ask themselves the question: “What would you do in Ludwig’s position?"