A story about beautiful guitars unexpectedly turns into a major environmental case study in this interesting documentary, during which several top manufacturers—Gibson, Taylor, and Martin among them—overcome competitiveness in order to work together towards saving what is left of old-growth forest in Southeast Alaska, a major source of spruce for their instruments. Not surprisingly, the melodic sounds that come from the best acoustic guitars require different types of wood: mahogany, rosewood, ebony—all of which are in increasingly short supply due to deforestation in various parts of the world. Filmmaker Maxine Trump shows how, in a kind of shotgun alliance, companies are working with two adversaries, Greenpeace and Sealaska (the latter a corporation managing and selling Native American tribal assets), to find a solution to the mass destruction of timberlands in Alaska. The story of give-and-take and compromise between all parties is heartening although hardly magical: at film's end, many issues remain unresolved even as hugely profitable clear-cutting continues. Still, this is an inspiring film about people—who don't usually see eye to eye—looking for a common cause, and with virtuosos such as Kaki King, Yo La Tengo, the Antlers, and Steve Earle contributing to the soundtrack, the message here is particularly resonant. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)