Dir. John Chester
2018 | 92 mins

Who hasn’t fantasised about swapping their city life for a simpler one in the country, eating your way through nature’s fruit basket?

For one LA couple, and their beloved dog Todd, this fantasy became a reality as they traded in their one bed apartment for an 80-hectare avocado and citrus orchard with a history of bank foreclosures.

Chronicled over 8 years John and Molly plant 1000s of trees, welcome 100s of animals and dish our tonnes of opportunities to young farmers as they build one of the most diverse and sustainable farms of its kind and armed with perseverance, bravery and opportunity the pair unlock a biodiverse design for living that exists far beyond their farm, its seasons, and our wildest imagination.

Featuring breath-taking cinematography, captivating animals, and an urgent reminder to us that nature needs our nurture, this uplifting documentary provides us with a vital blueprint for better living and a healthier planet.

‘The film will be followed by a roundtable discussion with farmers and agriculture experts including Caroline Aitkens, Living Soil Garden, Andy Bragg, West Town Farm and Exeter Seed Bank. As well as responding to the film, the speakers will discuss their own experiences of farming, their ethos in relation to sustainable farming practices and the challenges they face.

ABOUT FOOD ON FILM

SUMMER: Land and Connection

In the summer season, we will look at the relationship between food growers and land from two different perspectives. MINARI will explore a Korean immigrant family’s attempts to put down roots in Arkansas, USA, and make a successful living from the land, and THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM will ask us to rethink our own relationship to the land and how we might counteract the impacts of industrial farming. After each film there will be the chance to hear from researchers and practitioners on issues ranging from regenerative farming to migration, food and belonging.

AUTUMN: The perfect ingredient

Details coming soon…

From a shaving of truffle to a dash of cream, the perfect ingredient can go a long way in making a good dish. In the autumn season we focus in on two ingredients – fungi and milk – to see how each has shaped people’s lives and livelihoods. We start with The Truffle Hunters, a charming documentary, which follows a group of elderly foragers in the Piedmont region of Italy as they seek out and sell the finest truffles with the help of their trusty dogs. We then move to 19th C Oregon Territory in the USA with the feature film First Cow, to explore how a chance meeting with a cow and her milk changes the fate and cooking of one entrepreneurial chef and his companion. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about the history of dairy in the US and sample some baked goods.

To find out more about Food on Film, tap here >>

VENUE: EXETER PHOENIX, STUDIO 74

*Subject to a £1.50 ticketing system charge. We don’t charge this to make a profit. Find out more >>