The Biggest Little Farm

— I wasn’t sure I wanted to see this film, thinking one half could easily be finger pointing and the other half could be a kumbaya moment, both of which have lost their effectiveness on me. Instead, I had fun, particularly through the first half of the film as John and Molly Chester, who know very little about farming, try to create a farm on soil long ago depleted of its nutrients, with an eye toward all the parts co-existing in perfect harmony and sustainability. John Chester directed the documentary and knows what a pretty picture looks like, even if he sometimes adds music that’s a little too cute. He does see the humor in their learning experiences, and is also saddened by the disillusionment he feels when his idealism takes a hit. In the end, he wants the farm to be a microcosm of the earth, with man able to take the earth on a similar, healing journey toward harmony. The film’s just a little too long, but still provides a good stimulus, spurring us to think about biomes, interdependency, predators, protectors, the beauty and unpredictability of nature, and maybe about the current state of our fragile planet.

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[2018. 91 min. Directed by John Chester. With John Chester, Molly Chestrer, and Matthew Pilachowski.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-biggest-little-farm-2019