No. 18. (2020) IN THE NAME OF THE LAND (AU NOM DE LA TERRE) March 16th.

Film No. 18. (2020)  March 16th.  6:30 PM  PALACE Paradiso Northbridge. 

"There is nothing for me there anymore. I want to be home" (Pierre informs his father of his intentions after arriving back home in 1999 from Wyoming U.S. in his early twenties).

I've seen so many powerfully important films recently; Dark Waters the most recent of them. In The Name Of The Land is yet another brilliantly controlled contribution, and once again it relates to big business. This time however bb puts the squeeze on French farmers. The toll is eye-opening and devastating for those families.

In The Name tells one of those devastating stories. We know we are watching a raw narrative because director Edouard Bergeon is telling a very personal story. Bergeon witnessed first hand the demise of his father as debt and corporate greed destroy the family farm. And while the film is told unremarkably in a linear style the passion of Bergeon's message is extremely remarkable. A message the world should note.

In the early scenes meet Pierre and Claire Jarjeau, deeply in love and excited and willing to continue the farming tradition of the Jarjeau family. Pierre does not inherit the farm, he pays a hefty price to his father, Jacques (Rufus) who retires to town, now able to afford a reasonably comfy retirement. As time passes Pierre diversifies (chickens and goats)and accrues debt due to diminishing markets and margins, due mainly to French corporations failing to remain loyal to their own farmers. 

The ending is excruciatingly sad. It will leave you numb, but at the same time in awe of Bergeon. This young man has devoted most of his life to sharing his story firstly through Les fils de la terre (2012) a documentary of his family's story and now this feature film. He loved his dad, he experienced the power corporations had on small business operators and the devastation that occurred when no one was listening. Can you believe every alternate day a French farmer takes their own life? Surely someone is paying attention now. (9GUMS)