In All Ears: An Oregonian harvests wisdom in Iowa, Curt Ellis gives us a preview of his movie King Corn. His story got us at Edible Portland thinking about summer movie releases. We’re looking forward to seeing King Corn on the big screen this summer. Also, here are a few other great movies that we recommend. Why not hang a sheet in your backyard or on the side of your building, invite some friends over, and screen your own summer blockbuster?

Compiled by Deborah Kane

EAT AT BILL'S: LIFE IN THE MONTEREY MARKET
By Lisa Brenneis

Eat at Bill’s is a love letter to the Monterey Market, a family-owned produce market in Berkeley, California. The focus of this movie is on the market’s owner, Bill Fujimoto. Farmers across California will tell you that Bill was their first retail customer and that his support was crucial to their success. Lisa Brenneis was inspired to make this movie because she is one of those farmers. Bill’s passion for what he does and for the farmers who make it possible leaps from the screen. It’s a love fest from start to finish and a deeply inspiring movie.

FISHER POETS
By Jennifer Brett Winston

I missed the 10th anniversary Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria this year, but thanks to this wonderful documentary, now I feel like I’ve been going for years. This documentary proves that what fishermen and fisherwomen take from the sea is much more than the catch of the day. Indeed, these men and women share their passions in tight rhymes and loose verse that will stick with you long after the movie ends. And don’t be fooled when the movie ends—the bonus material on this DVD is not to be missed.

MEDIA THAT MATTERS: GOOD FOOD
A project of Arts Engine, Inc.

This collection of 12 shorts about food—from singing peanuts to teenage tomato growers—is sure to provide something for everyone. Missed your calling as a farmer? Watch the Young Agrarians short. Tired of your kids’ incessant requests for sugary soda and juice? Don’t Worry and Profit Cola will make you simultaneously laugh and cry. There’s even an asparagus “stalkumentary.” Rabble-rouser Jim Hightower sips lemonade on his front porch in Texas while he introduces the collection of short films. He’s the picture of lazy summer days, but the ambitious filmmakers behind these films have a lot to say and are, I suspect, anything but lazy.

BROKEN LIMBS: APPLES, AGRICULTURE, AND THE NEW AMERICAN FARMER
By Jamie Howell and Guy Evans

Apple orchardists by the thousands are going out of business and thousands more await the dreaded letter from the bank announcing the end of their livelihoods and a uniquely American way of life. After his own father receives just such a letter, filmmaker Guy Evans sets out on a journey of discovery to try to find out what went wrong in this natural Garden of Eden. This one makes me cry every time I see it. It is one of my all-time favorite movies.