Category: 2009/2010 Films

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil a documentary by Director Faith Morgan and Co-Producers Pat Eugene Murphey & Megan Quinn (53 min) 2006 “…gives hope and explains the transition that we need to make.” Shimmering with life like a cornucopia of colorful vegetables, this vibrant, hopeful film brings to light one of the most important stories of the last two decades – how a small island nation responded to a sudden and dangerous drop in oil supplies. When Cuba’s hefty subsidies of oil, food and other goods ceased after the Soviet Union collapsed and the U.S. tightened its embargo, Cubans suffered terrible hardships. During this ‘peak oil’ crisis, electric power became intermittent, transportation nearly stopped, parts were unavailable, and without fertilizers and tractors, food production declined to precarious levels. But Cuba bounced back. This inspiring film offers us a living model of sustainability, as Cubans tell the remarkable story of their nation’s recovery and its transition to organic agriculture, renewable energy, effective mass transit, lowered consumption, better health, and stronger communities. A project of the Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions, a non-profit organization that designs and teaches low-energy solutions to the current unsustainable, fossil fuel based, industrialized, and centralized way of living. Visit www.communitysolution.org for more information.

One man’s fight for a fair price in the coffee trade BLACK GOLD by Marc and Nick Francis (74 min) 2006 “As westerners revel in designer lattes and cappuccinos, impoverished Ethiopian coffee growers suffer the bitter taste of injustice.” While the wealthy parts of the world delight in exotic coffees, Ethiopian coffee farmers aren’t paid enough to feed their families and send their children to school. This riveting film tells the story of one man’s fight to obtain a fair price for his farmers’ coffee on the world market. As Tadesse Meskela travels to London and Seattle, the unfair trade practices of the multi-nationals and the World Trade Organization become obvious. The film is guaranteed to raise your awareness about the coffee you drink and will hopefully lead you to decide to buy only freely traded coffee.

“Milagro” is the Spanish word for “miracle” THE MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR by Robert Redford (117 min) 1988 “Whimsical, yet credible” This enjoyable tale of a small village’s fight over water rights is told with magical realism and humor. The residents of a small humble New Mexican agricultural community are threatened when big business appropriates their water rights to supply a posh housing development, thus depriving them of their one source of livelihood, crop raising. One man courageously stands up to fight the usurpers and causes division within the community. Stars Ruben Blades, Sonia Braga, Melanie Griffith, Daniel Stern and John Heard. ” … a populist fable set in some beautiful New Mexican landscapes about one stubborn Chicano’s battle against an uncaring system.” The New York Times

An entertaining look at a fading subculture… THE RECYCLERGY by Jeremy Kaller (33 min) 2006 The history of the recycling movement in the San Francisco area, starting with the first Earth Day celebration in 1970. “The Bay area is still home to a unique community of recyclers who push the envelope of possibilities.” Additional Feature: THE STORY OF STUFFby Annie Leonard (20 min) 2007 The way you look at all the stuff you accumulate may change forever. Lighthearted and educational. A special thanks to our guest speakers from St John’s Recycling Forum!

The remarkable Fez Festival of World Sacred Music in Morocco SOUND OF THE SOUL by Stephen Olsson (70 min) 2005 “Imagine the feeling of arriving in North Africa without ever stepping on a plane.” This striking documentary is set in Fez, the ancient Moroccan city known for its tolerance of all inhabitants, whether Muslim, Christian or Jew. The film highlights the historic city itself, as well as the annual music festival staged there. Musicians travel from around the world to perform in Fez. A chorus of African Berber women, players and vocalists from Afghanistan, England, France, Portugal, Russia, Ireland, Mauritania, Turkey and a gospel band from Harlem intermingle with a group of amazing Sufi whirling dervishes. “In a world increasingly polarized by religious conflicts and fundamentalist forces, Sound of the Soul reverberates with unity, understanding, and most of all, hope.”