(BC, 2011, 80 min.) Anyone whose ever daydreamed about giving up city life in favour of small-scale farming will find an eye-opening doc.
For one year, the film follows the life of five urbanites who have found three different plots of land to start a farm from scratch.
This is not a romantic tale.
The two young couples and single young man all face an uphill battle. As they struggle with unco-operative weather, pest infestations and poor soil quality, it becomes clear that farming is a body of knowledge that takes generations to build — and this knowledge was lost with the industrialization of farming.
It’s not all bleak, however.
Their journey is also filled with wonder, discovery and delight. This was an enjoyable film that raises many philosophical questions — but it fails to answer, or even begin to answer, one of its central questions: is this idealistic lifestyle viable in this day and age?
11:30 Feb 5 Capitol 6 Theatre; 9:15 p.m. Feb. 6, Capitol 6 Theatre
On Monday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. you can feast and film for $50.
The local food movement is growing strong and there is no better advocate than Spinnakers.
Long before it became a trend they were serving locally sourced food. It was natural that when film festival organizers wanted to put the spotlight on food they would ask Spinnakers to do a dinner. Diners will enjoy a 3-course dinner at Spinnakers and then move to the Capitol 6 Theatre for a screening of To Make a Farm, a year in the life of five new farmers.
Go to the Victoria Film Festival website for more information.
