Common Ground

From the moment the film opens, Common Ground demonstrates a mature self-assuredness in its message. The film's impressive suite of familiar faces, such as Rosario Dawson, Jason Momoa, Laura Dern, and Donald Glover, each kick off the film by composing letters to the future generations. These letters serve as both warnings of the impending climate disaster, and also promises to make a difference now, before things get worse. There's a problem, and we must solve it. That problem is climate change, and if humanity can't work together for a solution, there's no backup Earth.

The damage to our environment in the wake of industrial agriculture is difficult to hear about, and even harder to imagine fixing. Green grasslands and forests are turning into deserts. Soils in our farmlands are turning to dust. Carcinogens from pesticides and herbicides are leaching into our food. In the face of these threats and challenges, long-time eco-documentarians Joshua and Rebecca Tickell offer what few other climate documentaries of this kind can: a real, actionable solution to climate change. A solution that doesn't just halt the destruction, but reverses the damage already done. A solution that's been hiding just beneath our feet.

Through the testimony of regenerative ranchers and incisive contributions of soil experts, Common Ground reveals a better way to go about farming known as regenerative agriculture. This approach to farming involves managing farmland for soil health and avoiding practices that damage the soil microbiome. Where conventional agricultural practices such as pesticides, herbicides, and tillage kill microorganisms in the soil and rip up the delicate root networks that allow carbon to be stored in the earth, regeneration offers a wholesome alternative, strengthening plants against pests by natural means such as managed grazing, fertilizing with manure, and sowing seeds without damaging this natural system. Regenerative agriculture harnesses the power of photosynthesis to siphon dangerous amounts of carbon from the atmosphere, drawing them down into the plants we grow and storing it securely in the soil, reversing the damage of climate change.

The film further illustrates through stunning close-ups and sweeping landscapes shots alike how regenerative methods improve human nutrition, enrich rural communities, and restore the water cycles vital to life. This beautiful cinematography enlivens an assortment of impactful real-world examples from successful regenerative farmers. While his neighbor's conventionally managed field remains an expanse of barren dirt, Gabe Brown's regeneratively managed property stands as thriving pastures and cropland. In Williamsport Indiana, Rick Clark saves millions of dollars per acre through regenerative methods, showcasing the potential for regeneration to enliven rural economies across the nation. Meanwhile, Alejandro Carrillo brings life back to the arid Chihuahua desert, harnessing regenerative soil management through managed grazing to literally create rain! These methods are having a tangible impact on the places they are implemented, and Common Ground invites us to witness these transformations first-hand.

With a contemplative and moving soundtrack by Jacob Samuel Snider and Jim Fairchild, and the beautiful cinematography of Simon Balderas and Joaquim Pujol, Common Ground offers a narrative that transcends mere exposition into artful revelation. Shots of sprawling fields and mountains give a holistic, birds-eye perspective on the landscapes affected and changed by these natural processes. Orchestral swells and punctuated silences lend the movie a feeling of belonging amongst even the most affecting cinema. Common Ground is impactful, insightful, and shows us what real solutions to climate change look like! Thank you Joshua and Rebecca Tickell! And thank you, especially to Gabe Brown! Here's to regenerating the future!

When you think of a Jason Mamoa film, you think of Aquaman or some corresponding action blockbuster. But what about a documentary? Jason Mamoa, alongside Ian Somerhalder, Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern, and more, are all part of a new film called Common Ground. This film directed by Joshua and Rebecca Tickell, descends into the topic of soil and how it impacts basically our entire ecosystem. While not about vampires or perilous adventures, this documentary spreads the most important message about how to save our home, the earth. It's an emotional, and inspiring documentary that urges action over passive engagement. The issue of industrial farming affects everyone alive at this moment. There is power in knowledge, and understanding the state our environment is in is pivotal to making a change. Considering these A-list celebrities felt this film was worth dedicating time and energy to make over other projects, shows the deep impact the film's message has. It is well worth the time to view this film and see for yourself the importance of our shared common ground.

Growing up constantly being told that climate change was going to destroy our planet, I always understood that reversing climate change should be our highest priority. After watching the documentary Common Ground by Josh and Rebecca Tickell, all my concerns about our environment were acknowledged. This documentary uses visual and emotional elements, like including regenerative farmer Gabe Brown to emphasize the importance of regenerative farming and the negative consequences of modern farming techniques. This documentary teaches its audience about the ways individuals and farmers can take part in reviving the earth's soil, like discussing how planting your own garden can make an impact. I truly enjoyed this documentary's hopeful message and how if we as a collective work towards helping our soil, we will be helping in the future of our climate. I highly recommend going to see Common Ground in theaters.

This is a follow up documentary after Kiss the Ground (2011), which is somewhat inferior in standards of documentary-making and seem to target a younger viewer's range, but with the same important message: that we ruin the earth and our topsoil with current practices of industrialized farming. Furthermore, companies like Monsanto in particular but the food industry as a whole play an abject role in applying propaganda (attacks on whistleblowers), manipulation (funding farm colleges and rogue science) and bribing of government officials and government-policies through campaign funding. The cost in terms of public and ecological health is alarming. We have to turn this around or we will go down as the generation which leaves a gigantic mess for the generations to come.

Important message to everyone that our food choices and how it is produced affects soils. Saving our soil will save us from environmental disaster. We can all do our part in advocating regenerative agriculture. Registered for Amazon prime just to watch is highly important documentary. Hopefully their message can be spread to as many people as possible. Change is possible and we all have our part to play. This documentary is story telling at it's best, making the complicated easy to understand. Complexity of farming made simple, if I were a conventional farmer I would transition to regenerative agriculture!