In the interest of time, I’m going to be posting more than one review at a time during the film fest. Some might be shorter than others, depending on how much time I have on a given day.

Still Working 9 To 5

Let me preface this review with the fact that I had not seen the comedy classic 9 To 5 when I saw the trailer of the documentary. Well, I promptly rectified that situation by watching it a few days prior to seeing this one, and boy I was kicking myself as to why it took me so long to finally see it!! Directed by Colin Higgins, the 1980 film is a fun and hilarious film that tackled a potent feminist message, starring the amazing yet unlikely trio of Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton in her first-ever feature film role.

I think the fact that the movie was still fresh in my mind made it more enjoyable to watch this documentary, directed by Camille Hardman and Gary Lane. It offers behind-the-scenes of the film, as well as historical background on feminism and pro-ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) propaganda. Now, whenever one hears the word ‘propaganda’ it often conjures up something biased or manipulative, but you know what, I don’t see anything misleading about what the women are discussing here in terms of our right to be treated as equal to men.

The documentary did a stellar job analyzing the success of 9 To 5, which was a huge hit. It grossed over $100 million on a $10 budget, second only to Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back at the box office. Jane Fonda was one of the producers and she wanted Tomlin and Parton for the roles of Violet and Doralee. Just like their characters, these actresses also struggled to make it in a male-dominated industry.

It’s amazing that most of the people involved with the film are still around today, including producer Bruce Gilbert who gave many valuable insights about the filmmaking process. 9 To 5 is a hilarious, farcical movie with so much truth and comedy is definitely the genre in which to embed such a controversial message. Gilbert revealed the influence of Preston Sturges, known for his screwball comedies that provide a social commentary of the time. I mean, if this weren’t a comedy, the line ‘Spare me the women lib crap’ uttered by the big boss (played brilliantly by Dabney Coleman) would feel very heavy-handed.

Of course, the best part of the documentary is the interviews with the original cast, who are still on top of their game even today!! It’s amusing to hear from the then-inexperienced Parton who had the entire script memorized and thought everything would be filmed in order, ha! It’s crazy to think that Tomlin nearly quit several times during the making of it, and how she didn’t think the animated scenes would work for the film. The three women became friends even though they didn’t always see eye to eye on things, especially politically. Parton admits in the film that she has never been political–she doesn’t do marches and things like that, but she tries to fight for women’s causes through her music.

It was essential to hear from important figures in the women’s movement, such as the founders of the 9 To 5 Association of Working Women Ellen Cassedy and Karen Nussbaum. We also heard from real-life working women about their experiences in the workplace, the filmmakers even included interviews with men on the street who said the darnedest things (read: backward POV) about where women should belong. What’s less interesting is the bit about the failed TV series project, which I think is an example of a Hollywood cash-grab project that still happens so often today.

This is such an entertaining and fascinating documentary! It’s so thoroughly engaging that I could’ve watched another hour with the cast on their experiences working on the film. Not every film deserves a documentary treatment but this one certainly does as it shines a spotlight on issues that are still very relevant today. I think we still have a long way to go in terms of women’s equality, but films like this and the activism inspired by it certainly help make a difference for the next generation.

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Greener Pastures

This was actually the first documentary I saw on a screener as part of TCFF this year and it certainly set the bar for the rest of my viewings. Billed as an urgent and intimate look at American farming, Greener Pastures is told through the stories of farmers living at the intersection of climate change, industrialization & a mental health crisis.

The documentary captures the day-to-day lives of four small, Midwestern, multigenerational family farms over the course of three years. What’s notable about this film is that the director, Sam Mirpoorian is an Iranian-American filmmaker based out of Indianapolis and this is his debut.

I read an article about Mirpoorian’s filmmaking journey here which gave me even more appreciation for the film. He started in the Spring of 2018, driving 60,000 miles and speaking to over 100 farmers in a 6-7 month period, and found that many farmers had some kind of direct or indirect correlation to suicide. A CDC study in 2016 found that farmers have among the highest suicide rates of any occupational group in America, in as many as 17 states, the rate is five times higher than in the general population. That grim statistic became a source of motivation for the project, with the support and encouragement from Mirpoorian’s mentor Andrew Cohn.

MN dairy farmer Juliette Albrecht

Just like the filmmaker, I did not grow up around farming communities nor have I visited an actual farm before (visiting the Miracle Birth Center at the State Fair is as close to a farm environment as it gets), but I was aware of just how difficult it must be to keep farms afloat under financial pressures, especially caused by the lengthy pandemic, plus there’s the effect of climate change. To say that family farming is fast becoming extinct is not a hyperbole, and this documentary certainly proves that.

Mirpoorian followed the four, multigenerational farmers, one of whom lives in Minnesota, with such an empathetic lens. I’m glad that the film wasn’t just an informational documentary with a bunch of talking heads and expert interviews, but you get a character study of each of the farmers who have their own unique struggles in their daily lives. It really puts into perspective just how arduous lives on the farm can be even when everything is going well. I had to wipe my tears a few times watching Ohio farmer Jay lose his beloved cows and seeing MN dairy farmer Juliette feeling overwhelmed as she struggled with alcoholism.

Ohio sixth-generation farmer Jay Simeral

While their stories can be harrowing, it’s also a story of hope and resilience. I was inspired by Wisconsin soybean farmer Jeff who has a farmer mental-health non-profit to address the stigma around suicide, and there are also Chris and his daughter Becky who strive to make a difference in the political spectrum in Iowa.

I’m certainly glad such a film exists and I think everyone in America should watch this. There are a ton of food documentaries out there in regard to health and wellness. While some are indeed helpful, we should also turn our focus to the mental health crisis plaguing essential workers, the very people who put food on our tables across the country.

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Stay tuned for more TCFF reviews in the coming days!

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