Issue No. 24 | Wanderlust
9 February 2010 7:11pm PST
9 February 2010 7:11pm PST
Just Watched: Food, Inc.
Food, Inc. Directed by Robert Kenner.
The message is this: There are a lot dirty secrets in the food industry and it’s hurting consumers, workers, and our land. It’s a topic that’s made its rounds in the theaters with Fast Food Nation and Super Size Me. But Food, Inc. stays away from the shock-umentary approach of filmmaking, though there are scenes that are hard to digest, the film articulates an eloquent narrative that informs and empowers the consumer. The film reveals information in layers and presents it against mesmerizing wide-angle and aerial photography. The opening credits takes us on a dizzy journey through the supermarket aisles. The bright packaging form a seamless pattern and provide an entry point to talking about the graphic imagery of farmers in American supermarkets and the reality of factory farms in our food production. Writers Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) and Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) offer strong arguments on the consequences of American food production without sounding polemic, instead they give the film a steady pace and link the issues together. The film leads a cohesive narrative about sustainability with compelling stories from people in every level of the food industry from corporate farmers to empowered mothers, food engineers to Wal-Mart buyers. Beyond educational, Food, Inc. models a refreshing approach to inform and activate a generation of people behind a more equitable and healthy food philosophy.
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For more info on the flick, visit: http://www.foodincmovie.com/
Comments:
Michael Pollan is the man. “In Defense of Food” completely changed my outlook on food, health, and nutrition.
The food industry is extremely large and complex, but if you stick to the basics, you’ll be fine.
Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
this american life did an little spot on the drastic changes in pig farming over the past few decades and it is amazing to me what constitutes a “farm” these days. it’s all quite eye opening once you get into it.
I agree about making sure that you focus on the essentials. There may be some things growing in your garden that are more healthy to eat then the ones you can buy from the supermarket.
I think at the end of the day, beyond food politics, the narrative should inspire viewers/consumers to value health above all. We put food in our body to activate an intricately-designed system that keeps us breathing and alive. And why would anyone want to do anything to fudge it up? Our bodies are organic and sustainable, so why shouldn’t our food be too?
[...] of importing and exporting food threaten not only our environment but also our health as well, as a recent film will argue. It is now more important than ever to buy fresh produce locally as to undermine a [...]