Watch Occupy the Farm

Occupy the Farm is a documentary film that follows the journey of a group of activists who decide to take matters into their own hands and transform an abandoned piece of farmland into a communal food source. As the title suggests, the film is centered around the Occupy movement, which began in 2011 as a series of protests against economic inequality and corporate greed.

The group of activists featured in the film focus their attention on the Gill Tract, a 10-acre plot of land in Albany, California that had been owned by the University of California for decades but had been lying unused for years. The activists' goal was to take over the land and turn it into a community farm, providing fresh produce to local residents and bringing attention to the importance of sustainable agriculture.

The film begins with the activists gathering in secret, planning their strategy for taking over the Gill Tract. We see them discuss their tactics, which involve a mixture of stealth and civil disobedience, and we witness their adrenaline-fueled excitement as they breach the fence surrounding the land and set up camp.

From there, the film follows the day-to-day struggles of the activists as they attempt to build a functioning farm on the land. We see them digging up soil, planting crops, and dealing with the many challenges that come with running a farm, from weather-related setbacks to disagreements about the best way to carry out their mission.

At the same time, the film also delves into the larger political and economic issues that are driving the Occupy movement, such as the growing wealth gap in America and the widening divide between the haves and have-nots. We hear from a variety of experts who discuss the impact of large corporations on the food system and the need for more sustainable farming practices.

One of the most compelling aspects of Occupy the Farm is the way it portrays the activists themselves. Rather than treating them as mere caricatures or playing up their conflicts for drama's sake, the film presents them as complex and thoughtful individuals who are willing to put their bodies on the line for a cause they believe in. We get to know several of the activists intimately, learning about their personal backgrounds and what brought them to the Occupy movement.

Of course, the activists' efforts to build a community farm on the Gill Tract are not without challenges. The film shows how they encounter resistance not just from the University of California, which owns the land, but also from local law enforcement and other community members who do not share their vision for the future of the land.

As the film moves toward its conclusion, tensions between the activists and the university reach a boiling point. We see the activists engage in a tense standoff with police, who have been called in to remove them from the land. Despite the risk of arrest and violence, the activists hold their ground, determined to stand up for what they believe in.

Ultimately, Occupy the Farm is a compelling and inspiring look at the power of grassroots activism and the importance of sustainable agriculture. It is not just a film about a group of people who occupied some land, but rather a larger meditation on the possibilities that exist when communities come together to challenge the status quo. Whether or not you agree with the activists' specific strategy or goals, there is no denying the passion and commitment they bring to the cause, and which the film captures so effectively.

Occupy the Farm is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.7.