Best friend to socially conscious documentarians Bullfrog Films once again (overall) kindly and gently makes the general populace realize the errors of our ways with the DVD release of the 2014 movie "Food For Change." One particularly special aspect of this one is that active food co-op member Steven Alves practices what he preaches regarding this analysis of that form of grocery shopping.
The sole inadvertently hilarious (and equally anger-inducing) moment in "Change" requires mention before discussing the high quality of the rest of the film. Alves validly points out that the environmental harm and other ills of centralized food production and distribution helps make the case for co-ops. DIRECTLY comparing that system to Nazism AND including stock footage of Hitler both takes things too far and utilizes an EXACT same propaganda tool as the Third Reich.
A June 2017 post shows that Amazon buying Whole Foods upsets your not-so-humble reviewer more than the next guy. However, speculation that the Wicked Witch of the Pacific Northwest is going to greatly benefit Prime members who pay him annual tribute of $99 at the literal expense of the rest of us and certainty that he is phasing out Whole Foods offering the local goods that help small businesses and that provide desired uniqueness does not come at all close to the atrocities of the Nazis.
Having stated the above, Alves prompts fond memories for this former member of the Hanover Co-op in New Hampshire. The goals of these ventures are to provide more affordable and better-quality food while literally giving members a say regarding what goes on the shelves. A related purposefully humorous aspect of this are scenes in which members spend hours debating disputes regarding topics such as whether the store should sell pet food.
The comprehensive scope of "Change" includes the origins of co-ops as entities that primarily deal in more commodity-like products such as flour. More of the aforementioned intended humor relates to the rise of co-ops in the '60s and the '70s creating strange bedfellows in the form of conservative farmers dealing with hippies and other counter-culture types who are in the game to return the grocery shopping power to the people.
Alves does this alternative form of merchandising an even more solid by (with the exception of the aforementioned ill-warranted historical reference) presenting his topic in a supported and well-reasoned manner. None of his talking heads shout, and he does not assert that shopping at your local Safeway will be the direct cause of any health or societal ills. "Change" merely provides current co-op members more reasons to feel good about joining up and should prompt folks who patronize large chains to consider buying local.
Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Change" is encouraged either to email me or to connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.
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