Our Daily Bread
I’m guessing that a 90-minute documentary about industrial food production is probably not at the top of your movie list at the moment, but this one should be. Despite having no narrative structure and no voiceover, Our Daily Bread, directed by Nikolaus Geyrhalter is visually stunning and surprisingly engaging.
The star of the film is industry itself – impossibly fast production lines of animals, gigantic machines that spray acres of crops and endless greenhouses that flood produce with 24hr light. Humans play a minor role, weeding out the rare imperfections in the machine’s work.
Geyrhalter frames his subject matter with a perfectly symmetrical and objective eye whether it’s the beauty of a salt mine or the barbarism of an abattoir. We are left to our own conclusions about food production but it’s impossible not to feel both impressed and revolted at how efficient and unnatural it has become.
David Rainbird
Posted on Thursday, 17th of September 2009 Permalink Comment (5)
5 Comments
I’m glad you posted this, I remember reading about it but then forgot to try and see it. It’s reminded me.
I’m glad you say impressed and revolted - that seems the emotion. It’s always a bit annoying when liberal commentators moan without qualification about how mechanised food production has become. I imagine if you work in an abbatoir, it can’t get mechanised enough.
PS Your question space at the bottom is typically word-ist. if you try to write ‘ten” it gets rejected.
Posted by Richard Benson on Friday, September 2009 at 9:44 AM
Hi!
I think that a 90-minute documentary about industrial food production is probably not at the top of your movie list at the moment
ZOJIRUSHI Bread Makers
Posted by ZOJIRUSHI Bread Makers on Friday, September 2009 at 10:21 AM
Hi ZOJIRUSHI,
The bread that the Zojirushi Bread Maker bakes is too yeasty and quite bland with a nasty shiny crust that is really tough. Yes, Zojirushi bread makers make disgusting bread. Only really good for making spam sandwiches. Don’t buy the Zojirushi Bread Maker.
http://panasonicbreadmaker.info/zojrushibreadmaker.php
Posted by David Rainbird on Friday, September 2009 at 10:39 AM
Seconded. I would rather eat that fish than anything made in a Zojirushi.
Posted by Richard Benson on Friday, September 2009 at 10:43 AM
Mighty depressing images… One of things we all know exists but prefer to ignore. Important to be reminded of the reality, though.
Slightly off-topic but I work for a research agency working in conjunction with MTV and Swatch exploring global attitudes to art.
If you’re interested in art and would like to get involved, then please visit: http://www.playrespond.com and take part in our short survey.
At the end you’ll get to see how your views on art compare to people from around the world, plus you’ll be entered in for a possible cash prize.
Again, I know it’s off-topic but seems like an appropriate crowd.
Thanks,
Kelvin.
Posted by Kelvin on Wednesday, September 2009 at 10:16 AM
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