November 9, 2023
FILM: COMMON GROUND
DIRECTED BY: JOSHUA TICKELL, REBECCA HARRELL TICKELL
FEATURING: LAURA DERN, WOODY HARRELSON, JASON MOMOA
RATING: 4 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
The 105-minute running time of this films pack about as much information as one might obtain from a 17-week college environmental science course. I say this as a college professor myself and know how hard it is to condense information and convince people of its importance in a short span of time. Everyone should see this film. Of course, some might resist it based on some ludicrous political perspective. Disregard them! This is a film about the common ground we all live on and how to keep it, and us, alive.
I was not familiar with the concept of regenerative agriculture prior to seeing Common Ground. On a very basic level it means restoring and making the land on the planet healthier. Filmmakers Joshua Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell quickly dive into the myriad of issues facing our society due to erosion, soil turning into dust, herbicides, and pesticides. Several significant Hollywood celebrities are featured in the film, including Laura Dern, Woody Harrelson, Jason Momoa, Donald Glover, and Rosario Dawson who make their points clear and to the point: without regenerative farming we risk losing life on Earth.
This might seem a bit hyperbolic to some but the film is so well-written, directed, and produced that it would be hard not to be persuaded by all the research and first-hand accounts presented. In addition to the stars, who are basically narrating some key material on the subject, the filmmakers interview farmers, politicians, and other agriculturalists to illustrate what exactly has happened in the past century to our farmlands. Much of the problem, they contend, is due to the chemicals sprayed on our crops that cause issues to the land as well as significant health issues for the farmers. The Tickells also emphasize the influx of big corporations pushing their products to the land owners only to see them suffer and grow further into debt. (The key culprit here is Monsanto whose product Round-Up, containing the chemical glyphosate, has already been proven to cause cancer in humans.)
All is not doom and gloom here though. The main call to action is to get people on board with the practice of regenerative farming. The basic principles involve no tilling, using different cover crops, less pesticides and more animals to help build up soil and the much-needed carbon. The process has been used successfully by indigenous people for generations.
The filmmakers spare nothing to convince us of this argument. Using interviews with key agriculturalists, farmers, and politicians, it’s easy to get on board with the cause. They use plenty of effective graphics and animated footage as well as impressive nature photography which clearly shows the beauty AND destruction found on our planet.
The film also stands out because all of the material presented is very easy to understand and digest. This isn’t some complex, unrelatable lesson here. Rather it’s a call to action that is very inspiring and crucial to the survival of our species as well as the planet.
Common Ground is playing in limited release. In the Chicago area, it opens tomorrow at AMC Northbrook. There will also be a special screening event for the film at the Music Box Theatre on November 18th. Filmmakers Josh Tickell and Rebecca Tickell will be present for the screening and a VIP Reception. Go to https://musicboxtheatre.com/films-and-events/common-ground for more information.
FILM: COMMON GROUND
DIRECTED BY: JOSHUA TICKELL, REBECCA HARRELL TICKELL
FEATURING: LAURA DERN, WOODY HARRELSON, JASON MOMOA
RATING: 4 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
The 105-minute running time of this films pack about as much information as one might obtain from a 17-week college environmental science course. I say this as a college professor myself and know how hard it is to condense information and convince people of its importance in a short span of time. Everyone should see this film. Of course, some might resist it based on some ludicrous political perspective. Disregard them! This is a film about the common ground we all live on and how to keep it, and us, alive.
I was not familiar with the concept of regenerative agriculture prior to seeing Common Ground. On a very basic level it means restoring and making the land on the planet healthier. Filmmakers Joshua Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell quickly dive into the myriad of issues facing our society due to erosion, soil turning into dust, herbicides, and pesticides. Several significant Hollywood celebrities are featured in the film, including Laura Dern, Woody Harrelson, Jason Momoa, Donald Glover, and Rosario Dawson who make their points clear and to the point: without regenerative farming we risk losing life on Earth.
This might seem a bit hyperbolic to some but the film is so well-written, directed, and produced that it would be hard not to be persuaded by all the research and first-hand accounts presented. In addition to the stars, who are basically narrating some key material on the subject, the filmmakers interview farmers, politicians, and other agriculturalists to illustrate what exactly has happened in the past century to our farmlands. Much of the problem, they contend, is due to the chemicals sprayed on our crops that cause issues to the land as well as significant health issues for the farmers. The Tickells also emphasize the influx of big corporations pushing their products to the land owners only to see them suffer and grow further into debt. (The key culprit here is Monsanto whose product Round-Up, containing the chemical glyphosate, has already been proven to cause cancer in humans.)
All is not doom and gloom here though. The main call to action is to get people on board with the practice of regenerative farming. The basic principles involve no tilling, using different cover crops, less pesticides and more animals to help build up soil and the much-needed carbon. The process has been used successfully by indigenous people for generations.
The filmmakers spare nothing to convince us of this argument. Using interviews with key agriculturalists, farmers, and politicians, it’s easy to get on board with the cause. They use plenty of effective graphics and animated footage as well as impressive nature photography which clearly shows the beauty AND destruction found on our planet.
The film also stands out because all of the material presented is very easy to understand and digest. This isn’t some complex, unrelatable lesson here. Rather it’s a call to action that is very inspiring and crucial to the survival of our species as well as the planet.
Common Ground is playing in limited release. In the Chicago area, it opens tomorrow at AMC Northbrook. There will also be a special screening event for the film at the Music Box Theatre on November 18th. Filmmakers Josh Tickell and Rebecca Tickell will be present for the screening and a VIP Reception. Go to https://musicboxtheatre.com/films-and-events/common-ground for more information.
