Oscar cheese

Food Inc. didn't win at the Oscars, instead The Cove did, with it's message to save dolphines from the disgusting practices of some Japanese fishermen.

I had my money on Which Way Home, the movie on the immigration of unaccompanied minors from Latin America to the US. I supported this movie over the others, because after watching it twice, presenting it at a film series at the New School and participating with the director on a panel. I realized how little regular people know about this increasing issue. I used to work for the Consulate General of Mexico in Boston and helped dozens of minors to go back to Mexico and parents to try to locate their children in the US. I wanted Which Way Home to win hoping that more attention will be given to the immigration of unaccompanied minors and immigration reform more generally.

This made me think about the role of movies and documentaries in affecting public discourse in the US and abroad. For example the Chinese movie on the protests of families over the dead of children during the earthquake in China has been censured by the goverment and some friends in China said that the Oscars were not broadcasted in the country over the real possibility of this movie winning an award.

The fact that Food Inc. was participating is important, but unfortunately the movie didn't achieve it's aim. For people aware of the challenges facing our food supply and climate change the movie added little to the debate. To people uninterested in the topic this documentary was inconsequential and to detractors of this issues was an easy target.

However, the issues in the movie are super important and people should really watched if they haven't done so.

To talk about cheese and not just politics. I'll tell you about the two cheeses that we brought to my friends' house the night of the Oscars. One was Selles-sur-Cher and the other was Beehive Barely Buzzed. Both had the intention of making people feel glamorous while watching the awards.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.