Common Ground

This is a letter. A letter that serves as a warning for the future generation. For our world. This is how the documentary Common Ground chose to start the journey with the audience. Starting off with a somber tone that many documentaries follow while discussing environmental health. But where Common Ground branches off is how by the end, the audience is left teary eyed and full of hope that it is never too late to start making a better future. And that letter then serves as a promise that we will never give up. Common Ground stands as its own piece of art that delivers a clear environmental message and how we can change the world. Just from using soil.

The directors Joshua and Rebecca Tickell dives into one of the most powerful tools that can heal the world's and human health which is regenerative agriculture. This is the process of reshaping the ecosystem so it can be used to produce benefits for humans while aiding the world's health like reducing carbon from the atmosphere and bringing animals back to an ecosystem. We experience the power of regenerative agriculture as the documentary takes the audience across America to meet insightful experts on the subject. In North Dakota, regenerative rancher Gabe Brown compares his luscious farmland full of animals chirping to his neighbor's land that has turned into a gray block from modern agricultural practice. Up north in upstate New York, regenerative rancher Leah Penniman brought life back to an ecosystem that was deemed to have the worst soil health in the area through regenerative practices. Far west in California, Founder of Ecdysis Foundation Jonathan Lundgren teaches the truth of regenerative agriculture from the lies that he was taught from the agrochemical companies control of the agriculture education system. All of these narrative elements are guided by the stellar narration of Laura Dern, Rosario Dawson, Ian Somerhalder, Donald Glover, and Jason Momoa.

It's not just Tickell's directing skills that shine in the documentary. The production gets to show their love for the cinema arts through their own work. Zianna Milito's detailed animation provides visuals for Tickell's writing to make the different insights of regenerative agriculture more understandable. With some animation moments, it feels as if we are part of the explanation as the camera travels through interweaving roots and flowing with the carbon dioxide which has the audience stay engaged with the explanation. As stated before, the documentary travels in the U. S. as the main setting. This containment doesn't just allow the audience to follow the documentary's story, but also show them how close these individuals are to each other. It gives a comforting and hopefully feeling that these like minded individuals are not scarce throughout the world. It feels that the documentary sways regenerative agriculture as a collaborative effort with anyone can engage with the practice and heal the world. And this is the biggest accomplishment of the documentary: encouragement. At the end, the letter at the beginning ends with a hopeful promise that we won't quit in healing the world. This statement can spark hope within us and aid in the battle for a better world.

Common Ground chose to do what many documentaries could not: bring hope. Through the content and filmmaking, the documentary is a great watch for any person, and I hope they found hope as I did for the environment.

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.

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.

Unlike your average documentary, Common Ground transcends traditional storytelling to deliver a powerful call to action. It isn't merely an exploration of regenerative agriculture, but a compelling narrative that urges viewers to reconsider their impact on the planet, and their role in shaping a sustainable future. Directors Josh and Rebecca Tickell transcend this movement by starting and closing the film as a letter to future generations. It foreshadows both what could happen if we as a society don't start heading in the direction of regenerative agriculture, vs if we do. This contrast really adds tension to the film and emotion to the viewer, prompting them to think critically about the future of the earth and their role in this issue. By doing this, it creates a direct connection between the viewers and the subject matter. As the documentary unfolds it provides a thorough explanation of regenerative agriculture by using farmers like Gabe Brown and Rick Clarke who have been using regenerative farming techniques. They introduce us to all the pros of regenerative farming along with the struggles they have faced to get to where they are. Whether you are an advocate for environmental change or new to the concept of regenerative farming, Common Ground is a compelling call to embrace a groundbreaking path forward.