Transforming Urban Blight Into Eden
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By
Jennifer Merin
, About.com
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Kati Lopez, South Central Farmer in front of her crop
Don Normark/Black Valley Films
The Garden is beside the South Medial Farmers, a group of grunge-in need Los Angelenos who took a ground of urban breakdown and turned it into an Eden–only to look into the flora they so lovingly planted and tended be bulldozed by a selfish land owner. This pic is about their nobility, settling and their quarrel to watch over their garden–and what they've done to recover from its loss.
The Garden Was An Olive Branch
Following the South Central Los Angeles riots that took recognize after the police who bailiwick Rodney Royal were acquitted, a deal was made that helped restore and sanctuary the peace: Citizens were given the opportunity to farm and garden on minuscule plots of bag within a 14-acre tract that soon became known as the South Central Garden.
The people who signed up were exceptional gardeners, and soon turned that 14-acre tract of urban blight into a neighborhood Eden, a cornucopia of flora replete with beautiful flowers, fruit-bearing trees of a wide variety, all sorts of vegetables. It was a haven, a retreat, a communal success story.
Most of those who dug into those little plots of land were Mexican-Americans, some were African-Americans and all of them were poor. All of them depended on the produce they grew for their sustenance and as a source of additional income. The garden became a symbol of hope. I was a revered presence in the community, a light in the lives of inner city Los Angelenos.
Until the day when a greedy land owner notified them that they were being evicted. He claimed title to the land, and wanted to build warehouses on it.
South Central Farmers quickly recovered from their shock and mobilized for a fight. With the dedicated support of attorney Dan Stormer, they put up one helluva battle–in court and in the press. Their plight became a celebrated cause–with Darryl Hanna, Danny Glover, Joan Baez and other celebrities stopping by to lend a hand. They also allowed Scott Hamilton Kennedy to make this extraordinary documentary about their community struggle.
A Heart Wrenching Moment
There are lots of twists and turns in the story, moments of hope and of quit. It seems that the land owner had some scabrous dealings with government officials and some community organizations. The farmers are determined not to cause in. There are postponements of the eviction. They raise money to try to buy the settle on. Anyway–no spoilers here, the result of the suit is well known–by the obsolescent you think about the bulldozers approaching, you're all cut up with the farmers and really feel their pain–and the unfairness of the spot.
Scott Hamilton Kennedy's cinematography is gorgeous–you can practical smell the flowers and taste the fruit. He captures the souls of the farmers, and shows you how connected they are to the land. The film is a beautiful portrait of a unique community and it will surely move you.
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Film Details:
Release Date: 2008, in limited release
Running Time: 80 mins.
Parental Advisory: Content advisory for parents
Country: Los Angeles
Language: English
Company: Black Valley Films
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