Voices of Transition Film Review
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Voices of Transition:
(2014)
Film Review

Voices of Transition was an excellent documentary that I almost didn't watch. There was something about the film title and artwork that made me reluctant to give this movie a chance. I'm so glad that I pushed forward and popped the disc into my player. It was a hour well spent. Let me share my perspective as a small scale American urban gardener.

To start with, this film is about transition. But what sort of transition? Well at some point in the last century, most of the developed world transitioned into our current state of existence. Today, our food is grown thousands of miles away from our homes. It requires many gallons of petroleum for it to be grown, harvested, processed, shipped and stored. It is grown through heavy reliance on synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. How did we get to this point? The film answers that question. And it also explains how our environment and economies have suffered as a result.

So now it is, once again, time to transition. Our human society will have to transition away from this resource intensive, self-destructive way of living. We need to look to the past for the lessons that will bring a happier future. Sustainable agriculture. Eating food that is grown locally and grown organically. Principles for permacultural design can help to repair the ecosystem, increase yields and boost resiliency.

And so Voices of Transition explores these ideas. And it also demonstrates how they are already being implemented in random pockets all around the world. This film is truly global in its scope. Much of the narration and interviews were in English. But there was also a glimpse into French cultures and even Cuban. I've never been so excited to read subtitles in all my life!

I also found a fresh perspective on the changes that Cuban society encountered in the last 2 decades. In my American culture, I've always heard a very narrow representation of Cuba. But this film shows what Americans and the rest of the entire world can learn from this small nation.

In general, I found this film to be both enlightening and realistic. I didn't feel excessive frustration at the destructive practices in the mono-agriculture industry. I also didn't feel swept up in some fanciful notion of radically changing society. Instead, I was able to appreciate the basic steps that people from around the world are taking to be just a little more responsible. There is an "ideal" place that people need to be. But that journey won't occur overnight. Voices of Transition discusses the steps that people are taking to get just a little closer each day!

Buy the film from Amazon.com

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