“A Place at the Table presents a shameful truth that should leave viewers dismayed and angry: The United States has more than enough food for all its people, yet millions of them are hungry. The film bolsters its case with plenty of facts, charts and expert testimony, but what makes the movie compelling is its focus on a handful of victims, who make the statistics painfully real.
“There's Rosie, a small-town Colorado girl who has trouble concentrating in her fifth-grade class because she is hungry. She says she sometimes pictures her fellow students and teacher as pieces of fruit. And Barbie, a North Philadelphia mother of two, who is dismayed to learn that, when she finally finds a low-paying job, she is disqualified for today's equivalent of food stamps.
“Among the film's many talking heads are celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, seen testifying before Congress, and author and activist Raj Patel. We also hear from individuals who are making heroic efforts.
“Filmmakers Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush make it clear that the issue isn't simply one of insufficient food. "A Place at the Table" looks at how important reforms are hampered by Washington politics, and how the agricultural subsidy system results in cheap junk food, which means that poor people can be both "food insecure" and obese. At the same time, fresh and healthful foods have become more costly, leading to the existence of "food deserts" - where supermarkets are few and poorly stocked.
“Actor Jeff Bridges, a veteran in the fight against hunger, opines that making sure all Americans have enough to eat is a patriotic issue. That nails it.” - SF Chronicle
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