In the last 50 years, the way Americans eat has been quietly transformed, mostly for the worse, and this riveting documentary is part of a small-but-growing effort to change things. At this point, it’s common knowledge that what is often called the Western diet is not ideal from a health standpoint. Super Size Me (2004) became one of the highest-grossing documentaries by demonstrating the effects of too much fast food. Somewhat less well-known is how the family farm of the popular imagination has almost entirely given way to a system built on the model of big business. Director Robert Kenner shows how and why this has occurred, and the unique effects of this model as applied to food.
Kenner covers ground explored in the nonfiction of Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) and Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma), among others. These two are among the experts who appear (Schlosser is a co-producer), and for people familiar with their work, much here will be familiar, but the visuals and the testimonials from individuals are still valuable. For those new to the subject, the information here is likely to surprise and shock. Along with contributing to an epidemic of obesity and poor nutrition, the current system results in unnecessary animal abuse, food-borne illnesses, and industrial pollution. The film looks at all of these aspects with the organizing principle being the increasing control of production by a few large companies, often subsized by taxpayers.
Kenner condenses a lot of information into the space of a single feature, with a good mix of solid facts and individual testimonials. Anyone who eats should see this.
IMDB link
viewed (Philadelphia Film Festival) and reviewed 6/19/09
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