Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/185526
FILM Directed by Kristi Jacobson & Lori Silverbush A Place at the Table I t's difficult to understand how 50 million people—one in six Americans—can be food insecure in one of the world's wealthiest countries. The reasons are complex, and perpetuated by our farm policy. Farm subsidies started during the Great Depression, before agribusiness took over our food system, and were intended to end when the economy stabilized. They never did. In fact, last summer Congress passed new subsidies that will cost taxpayers $195 billion over the next 10 years. Wondering which crops get most of this windfall? Wheat, corn and soy, all of which are now primarily GMO. As part of the same bill, no money was added for food stamps. Instead of the 10 billion requested by the president for programs to help feed children, they will get only 4.5 billion— pulled from food stamps—or about 1/40 of what we will spend for subsidies. And the rich get richer and the poor struggle to pay for food, which is why they often choose chips and processed food over produce and protein. Childhood food deprivation sets kids up for learning difficulties and lifelong health problems, the film tells us, so if we truly care about feeding people, as GMO proponents claim, we should give more support to the type of people we meet in this film, who just need a little help to get them out of grinding poverty. For example, a young woman who got pregnant and then had another child, only to find herself single and stuck in a low-paying job, would like to go to college but can't make it happen. Although A Place at the Table never mentions reproductive education or urban gardening, which would be part of a holistic solution, it sheds welcome light on a critical issue that should be of concern to all. (Magnolia Pictures) —AL Written & directed by Lynn Shelton Touchy Feely I t's wonderful to see a mainstream film like Touchy Feely embrace an alternative healing modality, and an important step to its broader acceptance as a valid health care option. Happily, Reiki practitioner Bronwyn, in an aptly understated performance by Allison Janney, is presented as a grounded (if overreaching) healer. However, nearly everyone else in this sweet but slow film is painfully dysfunctional, with few clues as to why they are so troubled. Free spirit Abby (Rosemarie Dewitt) is a successful massage therapist who suddenly veers off the rails for no apparent reason, then gets back on track via a curious combo of drugs and a nostalgic interlude. Her up-tight dentist brother Paul (Josh Pais) is almost comically out of touch with himself and everyone else, but one patient's near-miraculous healing sends him lurching in search of the Reiki Abby touts. Paul's daughter Jenny (Ellen Page) is the most fleshed-out character in this psychologically messy family, but although present in many scenes, the luminous Page has little opportunity to express her abundant talent. Her scene with Abby's boyfriend, admirably played by Scoot McNairy, is a focused connection in an otherwise disjointed ramble. There's plenty of talent here, but between holes in the script and confusing editing, the actors don't really get a chance to shine. (Magnolia Pictures) —AL COMING IN DECEMBER! Consider Placing Your Ad in our Next Issue WATER: OUR SOURCE & RESOURCE Close: Nov 19 • Release: Dec 2 • 310.425.3056 october /november 2013 33