I used to help out in the lunchroom at school in order to get one of the coveted “hot lunches” that my elementary school provided. Not equipped with a cafeteria, or even a kitchen, the lunches came pretty much ready to go. Salty tater tots, hamburgers with smashed buns, and cups of “milkshakes” that were always frozen solid were pretty typical fare. I think back to those days spent spooning goop onto trays and shudder. I was a kid, so I thought that food was special – way better than the sandwiches, carrots, and thermoses of milk my mom provided us with. As an adult, I’ve realized that “hot lunch” was probably the last thing I should have been consuming. It made me lethargic. I didn’t want to play at recess. It made my stomach hurt. It made me more irritable. But as a kid, I thought those lunches were the best thing around.
I’m old enough that vending machines and junk food hadn’t made their way into elementary schools, but that’s the normal state of cafeterias now. When one Mom discovered that her child was eating junk food because of the ease of availability, she became angry, and a film was born. “Two Angry Moms” explores why our school lunch system has turned into an institution that no longer offers recognizable food to kids. Not only does it explain the why, it also explains how parents can change the school lunch program in their own districts. When you realize that children today have shorter life expectancies than their parents, you may become an angry Mom, too.
“Two Angry Moms” plays at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 3 in the BriarPatch Community Room. The complete film schedule is available on BriarPatch’s website.
It’s almost August, which means it’s almost time for the Eat Local Extravaganza!
At some times more home movie than documentary, “The Real Dirt on Farmer John” is so captivating, the viewer becomes part of the story.
Becoming aware of which foods are healthy, where they’re available, and where they’re grown is the investigation of two young girls on “What’s on Your Plate?”
“Big River” is a 27 minute film with a huge impact. Picking up where “King Corn” left off, the viewer is taken on the journey of how farming corn with chemicals has an impact both locally and far downriver. The terrible consequences of our nation’s dependence on chemical fertilizers and herbicides is shown, from farmers’ wives dying of cancer to Blue Baby Syndrome to the Dead Zone in the Gulf. “Big River” doesn’t allow the viewer to ignore the chemicals that flow downstream.
This year, SYRCL’s Wild and Scenic Film Festival had a few food films, but not enough to fill our own Food Film Fridays. That meant that I got to surf the internet, looking for new films to screen at this year’s event. As I searched and read reviews, I got more and more excited for what we could show. I chose films that gave positive tools on changing the world through food. Along the way, I discovered ones that were somewhat outside of that realm, like “A Blooming Business,” but still were important for our patrons to see, as well as choosing a feel-good film that’s become a classic, “The Real Dirt on Farmer John.” I hope you’re as excited about this year’s line-up as I am. Like last year, I’ll post my description of each film a week before it shows. I can’t wait until February!