Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival
We were thrilled to be able to move from Mill Valley, Ca. to Sebastopol 30+ years ago. We wished for more land and a good place to raise our kids. All good things have subsequently manifested but I remember being surprised how non-sophisticated the town was. Very rural in location and in character and perspective. The only late-night venue was the 7-11 and ours closed at 10. No movie theater in the town. This after living in Mill Valley for ten years; the "in" place of hot tubs and peacock feathers, where John Lennon spent one summer, where everyone was rich, beautiful, sophisticated and cultured. The contrast was clear.
As the years rolled by we could see local changes. We got a movie theater, and some fine restaurants. I remember one restaurant that was touted in the San Francisco Chronicle. Suddenly you couldn't get a reservation and it was filled with people wearing all black. I was approving of the changes, but hoping they wouldn't change the character of the town too much.
Eight years ago was the beginning of the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival. We started attending a few years ago and have seen some absolutely wonderful films. And we noticed the attendees were from all over. Town support has been spectacular. This year we chose to go to the opening night film "How to Change the World". This included a big party after the movie. It was amazing, I felt I was with the sophisticated elite, and sure enough, everyone wore black. I don't miss Mill Valley at all.
The first film was about the founding of Greenpeace. They were media-savvy enough that they recorded and filmed everything. Their initial mission was to "bear witness" to U.S. underground nuclear testing at Amchitka, a tiny island off the West Coast of Alaska, which is one of the world's most earthquake-prone regions. I hadn't known or remembered this but more awareness came with the "save the whales" movement. Which led to the "save the seals" and then general environmental activism. Some of the scenes were brutal and hard to watch but necessary to the thrust of the film. Greenpeace is now huge. Their global headquarters are in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. They have 2.8 million supporters worldwide, and national as well as regional offices in 41 countries. Showed what a small group of dedicated activists can accomplish. Also cool, two of the founding members attended the screening and spoke afterwards.
The other film I enjoyed (not every film rates a +4) was called "This Ain't No Mouse Music", about Chris Strachwitz, the founder of Arhoolie Records and his quest to track down and record the best of American roots music, especially that which was obscure and in danger of being lost forever. When local Kossack Marge found out I was going to the festival she insisted I go to that movie and I'm so glad I did. Two hours of wonderful music and, best of all, there was Chris himself. I purchased the 2-CD set called "This Ain't No Mouse Music" from him which has 38 great songs and performances.
I also want to wish Kossack and amazing writer bastrop a Happy Birthday. I wanted to purchase a rock crusher for him but new ones are so expensive and the only used one I could locate was in Siberia so this cake will have to suffice.
There's a few boulders at the bottom that could use crushing. Have at it.
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