Documentary
Melissa Young and Mark Dworkin
Bullfrog Films
I actually saw a preview of the locavore documentary "Good Food" at the Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon, Washington in 2008. I'm reviewing the documentary now because I never stopped thinking about it. Similar to the 2009, "Fresh," another documentary that focused on positive happenings in the food world (US) as opposed to slamming us with guilt-ridden images of slaughter houses and factory farms, these films leave us feeling empowered and proud of the communities where we reside.
The US food industry has been analyzed and criticized to death. I get the point already and I would rather focus on the solutions, ditto for every other industry. Thankfully, "Good Food" does not just pose as a positive film, the filmmakers interviewed organic farmers, distributors, publicists for food cooperatives and showed us policy makers (such as County Council Member Ron Simms of King County, Washington State), focusing on the bigger picture--health of individuals and communities. I feel fortunate to live in the temperate and progressive climate of the Pacific Northwest where in some schools (K-12) children are taught how to garden and cook fresh vegetables, non-profits promote organic agriculture and support small farms, and farmers markets and CSA's keep small family farms alive and growing. The mission still is to bring fresh and organic vegetables to people of all classes, to support local farms by buying local products and to teach younger generations about the origins of the foods they eat.
Filmmakers Melissa Young and Mark Dworkin turn farmers, food advocates and distributors into minor celebrities. Each of the farmers interviewed enjoy their 15 minutes of Warhol fame by revealing their real, deep, and insightful wisdom. Canadian Scientist and television host David Suzuki reflects on the true carbon picture of shipping food from over 1,500 miles instead of eating what's literally grown in the backyard or in nearby rural communities. The organic farmers grow multiple crops and make the best use of their land and resources, even developing more fertile soil in the process. These are our real food engineers and land planners.
For me growing organic and using permaculture methods to produce food are no-brainers. And really, we all know that it comes down to choosing between making a huge profit on fake foods or producing food with love and nurturing at heart. I understand why food has become a political issue, but I feel disappointed, even heartbroken that we have reached this point at all. There's nothing worse than sitting down to break bread with a community or a gathering and then people start talking about the state of the food industry or give us a list of their food allergies. I remember a time when sitting down to a meal was a positive and life-affirming event. It doesn't matter if someone is a raw vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore, we need to make peace. Perhaps, promoting the beauty and nutrition of organic farming and food is the way to go. Let's stop focusing on what's wrong with the food system and focus on what we truly desire. Only then, will we stop creating more of the stuff that leaves us feeling red in the face.
http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/gf.html