Kiss the Ground
By Brian Costello,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Thoughtful docu addresses solutions to soil erosion crisis.
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Kiss the Ground
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What's the Story?
In KISS THE GROUND, the worldwide soil erosion crisis is brought to the forefront. Factory farming, overfarming, and the overuse of pesticides have led to the result of 1/3rd of all top soil being lost since the 1970s, and, according to the United Nations, if current trends continue, the world's remaining topsoil will be gone within 60 years. Narrated by Woody Harrelson, this documentary looks at what a wide array of people are doing throughout the world to fix this problem. A conservation agronomist and a North Dakota farmer travel to the heartland of America to encourage farmers to implement regenerative agricultural practices. Activists encourage local farming in their communities. Celebrities like Jason Mraz promote field and garden diversity, and Patricia Arquette promotes practical solutions to fostering practices that foster a long-term restorative economy in the developing regions of the world. Through these interviews and discussion, Kiss the Ground shows that, while the problems faced by soil erosion are daunting, they are by no means impossible to solve.
Is It Any Good?
Kiss the Ground strikes a fine balance between hope and despair, with hope winning out. The dire facts of planetary soil erosion are laid bare, and the likely ramifications of what will happen if current trends continue is confronted head-on. It's a difficult, but not impossible fix, and through interviews and discussion with scientists, farmers, community activists, and celebrities, solutions great and small are presented. The documentary makes compelling arguments for implementing the practices of "regenerative agriculture" and how it leads to not only a healthier and more vibrant planet, but also provides ample economic benefit.
A lot of (no pun intended) ground is covered in this documentary, giving the viewer plenty to think about, even if the documentary at times focuses on celebrities. While there's really no reason to have Jason Mraz singing an original number that extols the virtues of diversifying your garden, and the presence of Woody Harrelson often seems superfluous, Kiss the Ground also shows activists who aren't celebrities who are devoting their lives to solving these problems. It's a thoughtful documentary that clearly shows what good can be done, collectively and individually, if we have the will to make it happen.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the statistics in the movie. What did you learn? Does the movie effectively show what's happening now, what can be done about it, and what's likely to happen if we don't do anything about it?
Is there anything you think the documentary didn't address or anything you disagreed with? If so, what was it?
How concerned are those in your community about protecting the environment? Would those in your community be receptive to a documentary like this? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: September 22, 2020
- Cast: Woody Harrelson , Patricia Arquette , Jason Mraz
- Director: Joshua Tickell
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Activism , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , History , Science and Nature
- Run time: 84 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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