MOVIE | A New Look at Food in 'Our Daily Bread'
MOVIE | A Documentary That Changed the Minds of 1.5 Million People in Agricultural France
Revisiting the Question of "Food" with "Our Daily Poison"
Directed by journalist and documentary filmmaker Marie-Monique Robin, "Our Daily Poison" will be released sequentially starting September 1st (Saturday) at Uplink Shibuya and other theaters nationwide.
Text by IWANAGA Morito
The Global Corporation Behind Genetically Modified Foods
The label "Non-GMO" found on familiar foods like tofu, natto, and potato chips. But what exactly are genetically modified crops – "unnatural foods"? And where do they come from?
Monsanto, an agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation headquartered in the United States. The camera follows the hidden reality behind the clean image of this global company, which boasts a 90% share of the world's GMO food market. From genetically modified crops to the herbicides, pesticides, PCBs, and bovine growth hormones it has released in the past. The film scrutinizes Monsanto's century-long, veiled history through valuable testimonies and confidential documents.
Monsanto's business disregards the genetic diversity of nature, food safety, environmental impact, and the lives of those involved in agriculture. This film strongly questions the current economic structure of "food" that prioritizes profit by controlling "seeds," the very foundation of life. The line spoken in the film, "Global food control is a greater threat than any bomb," resonates. What is Monsanto's true aim in seeking to monopolize the world's food market?—.
Director Marie-Monique Robin has received numerous awards for her previous works, including those addressing organ trafficking. With "Our Daily Poison," she won the German Environmental Media Award and the Rachel Carson Prize in 2008. She is currently reporting from Fukushima following the 3.11 disaster and is producing a film about alternative farmers worldwide, focusing on agroecology and sustainable societies.
Food Safety in an Era of Economic Globalization
The rapid advancement of economic globalization, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, which is said to have far-reaching effects on agriculture, food safety, healthcare, and various other fields. The dire situations depicted in various countries in the film may foreshadow Japan's future as economic globalization progresses. The concern is that the impact of unnatural foods (GMO crops) on the environment and human health remains unknown. The food we eat every day is a choice about how we live, and by knowing, we can protect the future. This documentary, released in 42 countries and significantly influencing GM policies, exposes the global structure surrounding "food" and, by extension, "life." It is a must-see film today. Why not take this opportunity to contemplate the world from your dinner table?
"Our Daily Poison"
Director | Marie-Monique Robin
Original Title | Le monde selon Monsanto
2008 | France, Canada, Germany | 108 min
Co-produced by the National Film Board of Canada and Arte France
Opening September 1st (Saturday) at Uplink Shibuya and nationwide
http://www.uplink.co.jp/monsanto