With 3.6 billion pounds of Roundup sprayed annually on crops grown in the United States, the investigative documentary Children Of the Vine couldn’t be more timely. Shot primarily in the wine regions of Napa and Sonoma Counties, the film screens on October 8th at The Crossroads Center on the Prescott College Campus in Prescott, AZ at 6:00 PM.
The unsettling investigation into the controversial herbicide Roundup and its impact on public health was directed by award-winning filmmaker Brian Lilla, who after moving to Napa Valley, witnessed a nightmare unfolding around him as farm workers sprayed vineyards with thousands of gallons of Roundup each winter. At the center of this controversy is glyphosate, the primary active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup. Glyphosate is now found in breast milk, baby food, wine and 80% of food grown in the United States. Why are countries banning Roundup while U.S. farmers use more of it than any other country in the world?
Lilla interviewed both farmers who depend on Roundup and those paying the ultimate price for spraying it. Lilla digs deep into Monsanto’s misleading science and 40 year campaign that Roundup is “safe as salt.” In the end, Children Of The Vine highlights solution driven farming practices that don’t put public health at risk and are capable of feeding the world. The Ecology Center screening will be followed by a panel of farmers, scientists and the director to answer questions and discuss options of non-toxic farming practices.
After premiering at the Sonoma International Film Festival, Children Of The Vine is now executing a national community screening campaign that allows audiences to engage with farmers who provide insights and resources on organic weed management practices that work for a diversity of communities. Screening the film in theaters, churches, farms and universities, Children Of The Vine is inspiring communities across the country to move away from Roundup and begin the process of healing soil health and growing nontoxic nutrient rich foods.
About the Director
Brian Lilla is an award winning director whose films have had positive repercussions around the globe. Lilla’s documentary Patagonia Rising investigates the impacts of a proposal to build five large-scale dams in the heart of Patagonia, Chile. After airing on Netflix, The Discovery Channel and multiple international television stations, Patagonia Rising helped inform Chile’s final decision against building the dams. Variety Magazine has described Lilla’s work as “Intelligent and awe inspiring”, while the New York Times wrote his work is “Beautifully filmed and patiently explained.” Lilla lives in Napa, California, with his wife and two children.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up