Occupy the Farm (2014) Poster

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10/10
Excellent documentary
garyweimberg10 November 2014
Great idea for a film ... and for renewed hope about what regular people can accomplish. Not just a local story, but worth attention where ever there is a vacant lot filled with nuthin' but possibilities. Good pacing. Great info. Some really well done photography. Highly recommended. Still thinking about it days after seeing it.

The film follows a group of very dynamic, telegenic urban farmers as they set about realizing their dream of an urban farm - in the face of resistance from a group of lacking-in imagination university bureaucrats who control the under-utilized plot of land. Along the way, we get to learn so much about food, about community, but also about the possibilities of urban agriculture. This film effectively sticks to it's dramatic central story, but spirals out to all the relevant issues very effectively. I find that the general idea of transforming vacant lots into productive mini farms - as implied by all the actions of the farmers profiled in this movie - is a profoundly interesting one that stays with me.

But perhaps the most satisfying reason to see the film is to watch a step by step citizens-in-action effort. Too often the news just depresses me, but this film avoids offering any sort of falsely positive spin, yet still feels like a breath of fresh air and hope. this film does an excellent job of showing the real issues and difficulties, without abandoning us to despair.
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10/10
Great film...suspense, drama, fun, and all true!
jgclayart10 November 2014
We really, really liked this film. Highly entertaining while presenting a true life David and Goliath story...urban farmers vs University of California Berkeley. This film was very well-done, complex, thoughtful...and fun. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Of utmost importance is that the filming started at the very beginning of the story and then follows along the participants on both sides (both the Davids and the Goliath) as the real-life drama unfolds over a couple of years. Although the film is very fun...and very funny at times...it also raises important issues about the role of public universities in our changing economy and the ways in which these public institutions are becoming increasingly privatized, serving corporate interests (because corporations can put up lots of money while public funding has diminished). I most highly recommend it.
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