The Real Dirt on Farmer John & book signing Monday, August 14, 6pm, with delicious treats  Tuesday, August 15, 4:30pm Teatro Santa Ana, Biblioteca Pública Insurgentes 25

What's the most flavorful, nutritious and organic recipe for success? Hint-it's about dirt! Take one visionary farmer and a documentary film about a family farm in crisis, screen it at the major alternative film festivals, and what do you get? A runaway success of cult proportions. But for hero-farmer and part-time San Miguel resident John Peterson, star of the award-winning film The Real Dirt on Farmer John and director/founder of the organic farm Angelic Organics, there are more crops to harvest. 

Now carrying a cookbook under his arm but still ready to don a feather boa, "Farmer John" returns to San Miguel to share the culinary secrets of Angelic Organics with the presentation of his book Farmer John's Cookbook: The Real Dirt on Vegetables and a special screening of the hit film.

The Real Dirt on Farmer John is the true story of third-generation American farmer John Peterson. The documentary follows his journey to success, passing beyond tribulation and failure to rebirth. We glimpse his childhood in the '50s, the tumultuous '60s, the hippie-influenced '70s and the farm crisis of the '80s, culminating in his transformation-based creation of a biodynamic, organic CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm serving 1,500 families in the Chicago area with fresh produce weekly.

Profoundly moving and yet with an earthy humor, The Real Dirt gives city dwellers a new respect and understanding of the plight of family farmers without falling into trite nostalgia. It is a story of personal integrity, pursuing a dream and creating a vision-a timely tale that is being embraced by more and more people. For Mark Achbar, director of The Corporation, "The film evolves into a deeply moving metaphor for the struggles of an entire generation. His triumphant story is essential for all us city folk who have found ourselves despairing for the earth and what has seemed like our inevitable alienation from it." 

Since the film's San Miguel debut early last year, Farmer John and director Taggart Siegel have been juggling a chaotic schedule of presentations and receiving awards on the US film festival circuit.

Despite the hectic schedule, Farmer John managed the farm while on the road and finished the culinary extravaganza Farmer John's Cookbook: The Real Dirt on Vegetables.

More than just a list of 225 recipes and cooking suggestions, the book features seasonal recipes, stories, fresh insights and unusual revelations by nutrition experts, shareholders, farm workers and Farmer John himself. The Real Dirt on Vegetables features color and black & white photos of the vegetables growing in the fields and of the crew harvesting, washing and sorting them. Lyrical and practical, it builds relationships with the vegetables and deepens our understanding of the farm on which they are grown. 

The book comes highly recommended. In the words of Alice Waters, of the famous Chez Panisse restaurant, "Farmer John, with boa and pitchfork, is provocative and passionate about cultivating not only delicious vegetables but also a vibrant community of farmers and consumers dedicated to the values of sustainability."

This exceptional film promises to nourish the spirit, and now the book helps us nourish the body as well. Organic can be Angelic!

For more information about the film visit www.therealdirt.net. The website for the farm is located at www.angelicorganics.com 

Designing the next golden age
Bioneers Summer Film Series, Tuesday, August 8, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana, Insurgentes 25, 50 pesos

The latest offerings in the Bioneers Summer Film Series feature two different design geniuses. Jay Harman speaks on how to emulate nature's inherent genius, and Amory Lovins addresses the oil "endgame" with a sensible design solution. Their ideas, put into action, have the potential to transform the global economy.
Jay Harman is a naturalist, entrepreneur and inventor. The author of numerous patents in marine craft design, he has become a groundbreaking technology entrepreneur. He speaks on the solutions to pollution and waste with the emphasis on creating a flexible partnership with the natural world. His vision is that the next great cultural leap forward-the "Biomimicry Revolution"-lies right under our noses.
Biomimicry is a cutting-edge biological science that imitates nature's own designs. He speaks to the breakthroughs in biomimicry research that can empower industries to greatly reduce their energy consumption and pollution. 
Amory Lovins is perhaps the best known name in creating alternative energy solutions. He is a physicist and CEO of Rocky Mountain Institute and the chairman of Hypercar, Inc. The author of numerous books, including Natural Capitalism, his work has been recognized by the "Alternative Nobel," a MacArthur Fellowship, eight honorary doctorates, and Hero for the Planet Awards. In his Bioneers address, he offers a sensible and realistic outline of how we can achieve a prosperous post-petroleum economy through cutting-edge design innovations and radically enhanced resource efficiency.
Among the many powerful Bioneers presenters, these two design geniuses are some of the most inspiring with their radical but common-sense visions. They speak to the nuts-and-bolts potential of how it is possible to get out of the energy/waste/pollution mess that we have created. For an hour, leave behind the politics of "why" we are in the mess-and come enjoy an inspiring hour of the "how" we can get out of it. 
The films last about an hour and are followed by an optional conversation period in the Café Santa Ana.

NAFTA's Chapter 11 no bedtime story
Bill Moyers Reports: Trading Democracy
Thursday, August 10, 3pm, Teatro Santa Ana, Insurgentes 25, 50 pesos
Bill Moyers Reports: Trading Democracy is the fourth entry in the Center for Global Justice Summer Film Series. Moyers, one of the world's most respected journalists, reveals how NAFTA'S Chapter 11 clause can cost US taxpayers millions of dollars when multinational corporations sue the government over environmental and health laws that threaten their profits.
Speaking with legislators, public policy experts, community leaders and citizens about the lawsuits filed under NAFTA's Chapter 11, Moyers unravels the hidden repercussions of a treaty that was supposed to promote democracy through free trade, but now appears to have given deep-pocketed corporations the means to undermine democracy across international borders.
The program explores the case of Methanex, a Canadian company that is the world's largest producer of the key ingredient in the gasoline additive MTBE, which was found to be a carcinogen. In 1995, MTBE began turning up in wells throughout California, and by 1999 it had contaminated 30 public water systems. The state ordered that the additive be phased out. Methanex filed suit under NAFTA's Chapter 11, seeking US$970 million in compensation for loss of market share and future profits. Environmental attorney Martin Wagner tells Moyers, "they're saying that California either can't implement this protection or that they get a billion dollars. People should be outraged by that."
Moyers also takes his investigation to the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí, where an American company called Metalclad tried to bulldoze over the protests of both state and local governments to reopen a toxic waste dump that many citizens feared was making them sick. When Metalclad was stopped by the local town council, the company invoked Chapter 11 and was awarded $16 million in compensation.

Cinemateca, Aug 4 thru Aug 11, 2006
José Luis's Picks and Tips:

The picks: 
Paradise Now is a powerful film about the decisions two friends make in occupied Palestine. The film reveals the desperation of the situation, told from a viewpoint we don't see very often. Some people say it is an anti-Israeli film, but I didn't see that at all. In fact, many of the characters try to find peaceful solutions. Strong acting, a concise plot, and great cinematography all add up to make this one of the best films of the year.
Paper Clips is an amazing film. It is sincere and shows what the power of good and understanding can do. I thought this was an amazing tribute to the victims and is a must-see film.

The tips:

Please take note that in order to provide the best viewing experience, the show times for some movies may be adjusted to accommodate their length. So please double-check the times in your schedule. Also, please remember our new ticket price of 50 pesos. 

Discount cards are 400 pesos for 10 shows. 

On Monday after 4pm, buy your tickets for any selection of the week. Don't take the risk of being locked out! Nos vemos en el Cine….

Bagdad Cafe (Out of Rosenheim, 1988)
Friday, August 4, at 4pm
Monday, August 7, at 4pm
English with Spanish subtitles, 92 minutes
Cast: Marianne Sägebrecht, CCH Pounder, Christine Kaufmann, Jack Palance
Director: Percy Adlon
Bavarian tourist Jasmin (Marianne Sägebrecht) fights with her husband in the Mojave Desert and storms off to a nearby café-motel, where she develops a prickly friendship with the owner, Brenda (CCH Pounder). In time, they turn the decrepit café into a local hot spot, and Jasmin becomes a popular entertainer. The characters who collect at the café, including Hollywood set-painter Rudi (Jack Palance), form an odd sort of family in this quirky film.

My Name Is Bill W. (1989)
Tuesday, August 8, noon
English with Spanish subtitles, 100 minutes
A discussion will follow the movie. 
This program will run every Tuesday at 12 noon until October 3.
Director: Daniel Petrie
Based on the inspiring true story of the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, this moving drama stars James Woods in an Emmy-winning performance as Bill Wilson, a successful stockbroker who loses everything in the 1929 stock market crash. After succumbing to depression and drink, he eventually sobers up with the help of fellow recovering alcoholic Dr. Bob (James Garner). With newfound hope for the future, the two create the now-famous support group. 

Bioneers Summer Film Series
Tuesday, August 8, at 5pm
The Bioneers film series features two different design geniuses. Jay Harman speaks on how to emulate nature's inherent genius, and Amory Lovins addresses the oil "end-game" with a sensible design solution. Their ideas, put into action, have the potential to transform the global economy.

Global Justice Film Series
Bill Moyers Reports: Trading Democracy 
Thursday, August 10, at 3 pm
Speaking with legislators, public policy experts, community leaders, and citizens about the lawsuits filed under NAFTA's Chapter 11, Moyers unravels the hidden repercussions of a treaty that was supposed to promote democracy through free trade but now appears to have given deep-pocketed corporations the means to undermine democracy across international borders. 

Paradise Now (2005)
Wednesday, August 9, at 5pm
Friday, August 11, at 3pm
Arabic with English subtitles, 90 minutes
Director: Hany Abu-Assad
This disturbing yet moving tale finds two men at a critical juncture in their lives. They've been drafted as suicide bombers in an upcoming assignment in Tel Aviv. Granted a night to spend with their families, they go home but are unable to say goodbye for fear of tipping their hand. But perhaps it isn't time for farewells yet -the two become separated during the mission and must decide on their own whether to continue or bail out.

Paper Clips (2004)
Friday, August 11, at 5pm
Wednesday, August 16, at 5pm
English, 82 minutes
Director: Elliot Berlin, Joe Fab
Whitwell Middle School in rural Tennessee is the setting for this documentary about an extraordinary experiment in Holocaust education. Struggling to grasp the concept of 6 million Holocaust victims, the students decide to collect 6 million paper clips to better understand the enormity of the calamity. The film details how the students met Holocaust survivors from around the world and how the experience transformed them and their community.

Art Special:
Waking Life (2001)
Friday, August 4, at 6:30pm
Wednesday, August 9, noon
English 100 minutes
Cast: Wiley Wiggins, Peter Atherton, Steve Brudniak, John Christensen, Julie Delpy
Director Richard Linklater's mesmerizing animated film follows a young man (Wiley Wiggins) as he floats in and out of philosophical discussions with a succession of eccentrics and passionate thinkers, all the while uncertain whether he's conscious or dreaming. Thanks to each character's oddball charm, the ethereal conversation is as dynamic as the animation, resulting in an innovative film that is by turns droll, disturbing and provocative.