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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Lantern to screen ‘Seed: The Untold Story’

Dan Webster

The Magic Lantern hasn't even reopened yet (that happens on Thursday) and already manager Jonathan Abramson is scheduling the kind of special events that Spokane's alternative moviehouse is known for.

For two straight Sunday nights at 7, on Jan. 1 and Jan. 8, the Lantern will screen the documentary "Seed: The Untold Story." Codirected by Jon Betz and Taggart Siegel, the film is a look at the struggle over control of the world's seed inventory, many types of which are being hybridized — and patented — by multinational corporations.

Here are a few comments about the film:

Daphne Howland, The Village Voice: " 'Seed: The Untold Story' is the rare documentary from filmmakers who are not just capable but also in love with their craft. It's a wonder of photography, animation, and sound, and it's a testament to its editors that the many interviews with activists and scientists are compelling and informative, sometimes even poetic."

John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter: "After treating us to some lovely macro photography and time-lapse footage of seeds doing their thing in the soil, the directors introduce the well-known specter of genetically modified crops. There may be no one in the theater who doesn't already know of the troubles Monsanto has made for farmers who don't want to buy their engineered seeds, but Siegel and Betz package those stories up with a quick history of hybrid seeds and the Green Revolution."

Kimber Myers, Los Angeles Times: "Multiple people in the documentary compare seeds to jewels, both for their varied, colorful appearance as well as for their value. The film reveals the beauty present in the every day, and a variety of stunning animation styles further illustrate the wonder of nature."

Tickets for the screenings are $9 and are available at the Magic Lantern box-office.