The European Outdoor Film Tour just came through Berlin and I was really excited about it until I saw the program. It's just a bunch of guys trying to prove their manliness by taming the ultimate beast: Mother Nature. That's not what the outdoors are about to me and leaves the most sour taste in my mouth. Where are the adventurers who seek to commune with nature, to better understand the world outside?
Note to EOFT programmers and outdoor documentarians: There are many, many people who enjoy the outdoors in non-destructive ways. Long-distance hikers like me embrace "Leave No Trace" principles that aim to protect the natural beauty of the wilderness. More important is the unofficial hiker motto "Hike Your Own Hike" (which I suppose I'm breaking now) that basically means everyone has the right to enjoy the journey in her own way. At any rate, I think someone who hikes six months across the U.S. is more of a bad-ass than a dude jumping off cliffs on a dirt bike for a few hours on a Sunday.
It's fine to show hot rods and daredevils try stupid stunts in the desert and call that "outdoor film." But it'd be nice if you'd capture a little more of the full spectrum of people who venture outdoors. And it'd be nice to see the real main character--nature--feature into your programming as well.
Showing posts with label film. Show all posts
Showing posts with label film. Show all posts
19 June 2010
Ein neues wir: Documentary on eco-villages
I caught an interesting documentary by Stefan Wolf called Ein neues wir: Ökodörfer und ökologische Gemeinschaften in Europa ("a new we: eco-villages and ecological communities in Europe"). It profiles 10 communities in Europe, interviewing residents to show what life in each place is like. Although it's not exactly an earth-shattering film—Wolf doesn't tie the villages together or discuss their cultural or political relevance—it does show how real people are living today with a lighter ecological footprint.
Interesting, too, is that the residents' interest lies in the sense of community and well-being that comes from living in these eco-villages. Aside from a few solar panels and talk of energy-efficient buildings, their environmentally friendly lifestyle comes from living simply. Most of their diets are vegetarian or vegan and come from the food they grow themselves. A huge part of the day is spent with arts, music, and spiritual ceremonies: there isn't a TV or car to be found. Although the film doesn't discuss this directly, I suspect that the values shared by eco-villagers cause them to own fewer possessions, which allows them to work less and enjoy more free time as well as reduce their carbon emissions.
This slow, easy pace life had in the ten villages struck me the most from the film. It reminded me a little of the philosophy I've seen in long-distance hikers, but as a long-term way of life. Now I'm curious to visit one.
Interesting, too, is that the residents' interest lies in the sense of community and well-being that comes from living in these eco-villages. Aside from a few solar panels and talk of energy-efficient buildings, their environmentally friendly lifestyle comes from living simply. Most of their diets are vegetarian or vegan and come from the food they grow themselves. A huge part of the day is spent with arts, music, and spiritual ceremonies: there isn't a TV or car to be found. Although the film doesn't discuss this directly, I suspect that the values shared by eco-villagers cause them to own fewer possessions, which allows them to work less and enjoy more free time as well as reduce their carbon emissions.
This slow, easy pace life had in the ten villages struck me the most from the film. It reminded me a little of the philosophy I've seen in long-distance hikers, but as a long-term way of life. Now I'm curious to visit one.
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