Dive!

Dive! is documentary about the massive food waste problem in the United States. It examines how we waste our food, why we waste it and how this waste could be diverted to benefit millions of hungry Americans. It's kind of neat seeing what kinds of food and just how much can be salvaged from grocery store dumpsters. While the information is all well and good, it's a fairly awful watch. The host is insufferable, 80% of the film is switching between the same two locations and the interviews are all fairly lacking in terms of actual substance. This film could pretty easily be cut down to 30 minutes without losing anything of value. There are lots of great documentaries about the problems America has with food, I recommend giving this one a pass unless you want something under 60 minutes or you're trying to watch them all for some reason.

Film maker Jeremy Seifert takes the viewers on an eye opening journey into the dumpsters of America. This personal narrative film shows how one family's desire to live a sustainable life could be the answer to help millions of Americans who face hunger.

The purpose of this film is not to encourage people to eat from dumpsters but is to address the larger issue of the staggering amount of waste in the United States. The film leaves you feeling unsettled yet inspired, as you find out that over 50% of all food produced ends up in dumpsters.

I enjoyed that Jeremy shows how his family, friends and others are able to live off grocery store cast offs, but he does not preach or push his opinions. His thoughts are presented to inform the viewer in a very sincere manner. He is able to highlight his personal crusade and responsibility we have to our earth.

If you want a movie that will leave you informed and empowered with knowledge, this is a good watch. You will be alarmed and armed with the statistics and data that is presented. This filmmaker has done his homework to provide valid information to support his quest. However, what this film does lack is the reality of real change to occur on a global level.

It left me feeling frustrated that there is an unattainable answer to the hunger and waste problem in the United States. This film will leave you questioning our societal views and respect for the earth's resources.

The film Dive! Is an interesting look at the dichotomy between the excess of American's consumption of food and the scourge of hunger that still affects this country every day. Filmmaker Jeremy Seifert takes the viewer from dumpster fulls of what he considers perfectly good food, to food shelves that can't keep up with demand. The act of dumpster diving at first seems almost grotesque, but as the movie progresses you see how he chooses his garbage. The gag reflex in the back of your throat actually begins to relax. The incredible amount of waste, almost half of all food in America is thrown away, really does make dumpster diving almost acceptable, even reasonable. In addition to the facts and figures, dumpster diving and meals from said dives, there are the requisite attacks on Corporate America that every documentary in the last thirty years include. The filmmakers focus is Trader Joes but he never actually gets an interview with anyone in the company, so it's rather anti-climatic. Overall it's an interesting film worthy of the 52 minutes it takes to watch, but you may want to skip the popcorn for this one.