Parents' Guide to Common Ground

This film is quite literally about watching grass grow -- and despite using every technique possible to make the important subject of soil treatment engaging, for kids, it may fall a bit flat. Filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell begin Common Ground with a powerful appeal, having famous people like Dawson (Ahsoka!), Momoa (Aquaman!), and Glover (Childish Gambino!) writing and reading a letter to kids, gently explaining that while kids didn't create the problems this world is facing, they must solve it -- or we'll all die. Yikes. Attention grabbed. But then we pivot to a farmer walking his field, showing the difference between his land, which uses regenerative agriculture, and the dusty land next door that accepts Farm Bill aid and uses modern techniques. It's eye opening, but lacing the conversation with words like "tillage," "non-sequestering carbon," and "monocultures" may leave many viewers (of all ages) lost.

That's too bad, because there's a lot of good this documentary can do, as it touches on subjects of media literacy and understanding the motivations behind "generous donations" in agriscience. And while it wanders a bit off of its central topic -- addressing GMOs, why plant-based meat isn't solving any problems, and that farming is a White industry because of racism -- the meandering approach won't prevent those who watch the whole film from getting its message: We can save the planet -- and ourselves. It's not hard ... except for the part where we have to push powerful corporations with government influence out of our food production. But with a fantastic, robust, easy-to-navigate companion website that supports the movie's information and offers ways for young people to get involved, kids who watch Common Ground will be the better for it.