'Harvest of a million potatoes'
"Heartwarming" SF Examiner
"Genuinely inspiring" SF Weekly
An official selection of the Ojai International Film Festival
Award-winning composer and filmmaker Gunnar Madsen has made a 45 minute film portraying the people of Svetlana and their 'harvest of a million potatoes' in the fall of 2000. Available in NTSC and PAL VHS format.
Synopsis
Ninety miles east of St. Petersburg in Russia, a small community of people is growing its own organic food and attracting a lot of attention from the neighbors and the government. The attention comes partly because their farm is successful, but mainly because nearly half of the residents of this community are developmentally disabled. These disabled people had been considered incapable of taking care of themselves before coming here. Now, living together with dedicated volunteers from Russia and around the world, they are working members of a remarkable pioneering community.
This film profiles one hectic week during the harvest of 2000. Winter is fast approaching. All the crops, including forty tons of potatoes, must be brought in, while a surprise invitation from the farmer's market offers them their first chance ever to sell their produce openly without mafia intervention. Overwhelmed, they ask for help from the local villages. Students from schools are given leave to help with the harvest, and neighbors pitch in with phenomenal generosity. In a land where economic and cultural opportunity is so limited, it is amazing to see how spirits soar. This community of disabled people and foreigners is a source of hope for the residents themselves and for their neighbors.
A short video of 8 minutes, providing a fascinating glimpse into the life of Svetlana, is also available (VHS NTSC only). For information and to obtain copies, use the order form (pdf) or contact Peter Madsen at peter@taconic.net
Click here to view a clip from the video (Real Player required)
