King Corn

On Tuesday night, I attended a screening of the movie "King Corn" at St. Paul University. A really fun movie about two friends who travel to their ancestors town of Greene, Iowa, to learn all the ins and outs of growing corn. The movie starts with an isotope test of their hair follicles. Everything you consume apparently leaves a marker in your hair. Surprisingly, we are told the major carbon input in their bodies is corn. We are essentially walking corn cobs. At first this seems odd, but the journey is afoot and the revelations are flooring.
In Greene, our two friends rent a one acre plot of land from a farmer to grow corn. It is said right from the onset that if these two are trying to turn a profit from growing corn, forget it. If it weren't for the Government funding their venture, it would be a loss. And that wasn't just for these two, but for all farmers growing corn. That revelation was disturbing when you consider how much corn is grown across America.
A great moment occurs in the movie, when the filmakers sit down to try out the fruits of their labour......It's inedible. The spit it out thinking it tastes like chalk. The corn they and oh so many other farmers are growing is just not suitable to eat. Ironic isn't it? So much farming going on and the farmers loose money planting a seed they will never be able to eat. Our filmakers try to follow their corn into the food system. Their corn is likely destined for feed, ethanol or high fructose corn syrup. The last of these surely a major contributor to obesity in America right now.
After harvesting our filmakers are left with a $17.00 deficit. Thanks to Government funding though they turn a small profit. Funny though that farmers are producing such a crappy product, no one can eat it. Cows get sick being fattened on it. And we come up with ways of turning our surplus into a product that is slowly killing us.
This movie is made in a real tongue and cheek way, that is sure to make you laugh. But really I hope it makes you think. And sadly those who should see this movie the most, will probably not have it playing anywhere near them. And it surely won't play in a theatre that tries to get you to drink the 32oz soft drink.
On the option bar to the right there is a fun video that was played just before the main movie.
Enjoy