EcoAction Partners: Slow Food, Alice, Michael & Friends

09 Sep EcoAction Partners: Slow Food, Alice, Michael & Friends

It was a real treat to get it in to see the documentary “The Slow Food Story” at the Telluride Film Festival. A special thanks to Charlotte for introducing me to Alice Waters and Michael Pollan before the show. I know our Indian Ridge Farm friends would have loved to have been there as well.

Since I had the great pleasure to meet Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food, at a Slow Money Gathering in April in Boulder, the movie held huge appeal. I knew a bit of the backstory, having followed it from the movement from its inception, but the film was so rich and informative, I now know how little I knew.

I do know that Carlo in person was even more thrilling and charming than the movie reveals. Although the man used an interpreter for his presentation, he did perfectly well in English in one-on-one conversation. The themes a that developed from Slow Food continue to deepen and grow, but personally I was glad to see the idea of “pleasure” emerge so strongly from the film. Good food, good people, good places are so much a part of Slow Food we should learn to celebrate that fact.

As someone concerned with environmental issues on a daily basis, the notion we have taken the fun out of our work definitely hit home. It is difficult to face the litany of challenges we face without losing heart – but heart, fun, pleasure – those are exactly what we need if we are to maintain the pace and intensity of our efforts. “The Slow Food Story” looked back  into Carlo’s past, at his friends who helped make it happen, and the relationships that were key to transforming the leftist group into a bridge-building, local food promoting organization. The doc personalized the movement and the people in a rare and beautiful way and if you missed it at Film Fest, grab the next opportunity to see the film.

And to have the screening followed by Alice Waters of Chez Panisse and the Edible Schoolyard; Michael Pollan, an incredibly talented activist author; Dieter Kosslick of the Berlin Film Festival; and Stefano Sardo, director of “The Slow Food Story” together on stage for a talk made for a memorable event.

We have many ways to improve our local food systems – and many of us are working on those changes every day. It was a pure delight to personally slow down and take time out to view the film and listen to the panel surrounding the Slow Food Story. Thanks to the directors of the Telluride Film Festival who brought everyone together.

“The Slow Food Story” motivated us to redouble our regional efforts.