Film Recommendation: Kiss the Ground (2020)

Directed by Joshua Tickell, Rebecca Harrell Tickell

Actor Woody Harrelson stars in the documentary "Kiss the Ground," a compelling and optimistic plan to combat the climate crisis.  The film, available on Netflix, makes the case for the healing power of soil, arguing that its ability to sequester carbon could be the key to reversing the effects of climate change.

The film first examines how tillage and pesticide use have led to soil erosion, and then highlights the damage to our ecology, health, and climate.The filmmakers show as a solution "regenerative agriculture," an ethical practice that aims to restore damaged soils and promote carbon sequestration. As they travel the world, the directors often use before and after comparisons to show the beauty of healthy soils.  For example, footage of the Loess Plateau in China before and after the application of regenerative methods shows how a landfill can become a Garden of Eden.

By combining the scientific findings of climate experts with the personal views of people whose lives have been directly changed by climate change, Kiss The Ground manages to generate both credibility and compassion in an extraordinary way. Kiss the Ground offers a fresh perspective on not just stopping the effects of climate change, but reversing them.  Woody Harrelson emotionally explains how we can make a difference in our own homes by, for example, composting and eating a plant-based diet. 

The film also contains some new connections for me, such as the information that deforestation not only contributes to climate change because fewer plants can convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, but that by exposing the soil, it also directly changes the microclimate. Overall, this film has enriched my knowledge of agriculture and climate change specifically regarding the importance and chance of soil restoration. 

Trailer: 

Length: 1:24 h

Where to watch: Available on Netflix