The Botany of Desire

Wow, pretty cool.

I watched this on netflix and have not read the book.

This movie takes a journey through the history of our world through a view you likely have not taken before.

Although the focus switches from plant to plant (and even acknowledged throughout, such as the tulips in the background at the Amsterdam coffee shop), the concept is the same throughout, the plants' eye view of the world. They are mirrors to human nature, and have evolved around us, and in doing so, have had us evolve around them. If you don't like this theme, this movie is not for you.

A bit uneven in parts but it is a compelling concept. That view of nature and humans' role in it is refreshing to see represented.

By making themselves as attractive to us as possible, the four plants documented here have spread over the whole world. They have succeeded in getting us to do their bidding. Michael Pollan helps us see from the plant's point of view just what we're doing to the planet. By telling the history of some of our most important plants and interviewing the growers most intimate with them, he clarifies our symbiotic relationship with them. He lays out fairly the opposing views on high tech versus organic growing arguments. He clearly prefers the work-with-nature approach but fully understands that we're completely dependent upon high tech methods. The only really clear opinion he hammers strongly is that monoculture is bad and that preserving biodiversity is the key to a solution. He doesn't quite explain *how* we can do that globally, but he's quite good at getting people thinking in new ways about the bigger pictures of this divisive subject, and this is the main strength of the movie. The photography and production quality are also very high.

I love documentaries, and for some reason wasn't interested in this one, I eventually decided to give it a shot, and WOW. I was absolutely sucked in within the first 2 minutes of the show and did not lose a spec of interest throughout. The show really put the emphasis on getting you to see things from the plants point of view, although equally valid in a symbiotic relationship is the human point of view. This documentary instills a sense of wonder about the world that I haven't felt sense I watched the planet earth series (the BBC version, the American narrator puts you to sleep). It is full of fantastic quotes on every scene, one of my favorites, yet a little silly is, "flowers are exquisitely useless." This show is the perfect mix of science, history, and beauty. If you like documentaries, this is one of the best, and whether you're interested in botany or not, this show will speak to you on a deep level and is a must see.

P.S. I've been a huge IMDb fan for many years, I finally made an account just so that I could review this documentary, that is how much I enjoyed it.

Based on the book by Michael Pollan.

Right from the front of this documentary or speculative paradigm change, "When we use these metaphors and we talk about plants having a strategy to do this or wanting this or desiring this, we are being metaphorical obviously. I mean that plants do not have consciousness but this is the fault of our vocabulary."

What if plants to serve their purpose was manipulating us?

Phénomènes (2008).

We select four plants to demonstrate the premise.

The four plants used to promote this viewpoint are: tulips (beauty) marijuana (intoxication) apple (sweetness) Potato (control).

We follow each plant through its history and interaction with people.

Michael Pollan's bottom line warning is to get away from monoculture.

"We are not simply standing outside the web of life. But that we are part of that web of life."

I only saw the Blu-ray version. The Aspect Ratio is 1.33:1 but you can tell that they squeezed some wider views down as many people and objects were very vertical. There are a few DVD extras that include deleted scenes, More of Michael Pollan's Interview and Perspectives form artists, humanities, and sciences.

Continue your Botany excursion with - La révolte des triffides (1963).

The Botany of Desire is a well made PBS documentary adaptation of Michael Pollan's book discussing humanity's interactions with four different plants-the apple, the potato, the tulip, and marijuana-over the ages. It is both highly informative and thought-provoking.

The film itself is a useful introduction to Michael Pollan's ideas, particularly the idea of evolutionary deals between plants and humanity, in which a species of plant provides humans with benefits in exchange for human cultivation, which ensures survival. This concept is particularly useful for understanding Pollan's work, and figures in his other books such as The Omnivore's Dilemma.

The ending of the film is especially essential viewing, as it discusses the problems raised by industrial agriculture and the issue of monocultures-the tendency to grow identical breeds of a plant, which could all be vulnerable to the same disease. This fits with his broader critique of industrial farming in The Omnivore's Dilemma, and is important for anyone concerned with the future of American food.