Sovereign Soil (David Curtis, 2020): Canada

Reviewed by Abby Farer-Haydon. Viewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2020.

Watching this movie and the idyllic existence that it presents caused me to long to be closer to nature and live a simpler lifestyle. The film could also be called Back to the Land. That is what this group of survivalists have achieved. They have been able to create a way of living that does include the use of modern technology, but they also use farm equipment that is from the civil war era to glean what they need from this incredibly pristine country that is called the Yukon.

The movie opens with a man digging up  brussel sprouts out of the snow. At first one is amazed that there would be anything to eat that was covered with snow. The farmer tells us that getting them at this time of year keeps them fresh. As the movie progresses, the viewer continues to be amazed by the variety of vegetables that they are able to grow this close to the Artic Circle.

It becomes clear that these people have learned ,some of them through several generations, how to use the land. They are able to derive the harvest of all that the earth can offer. Throughout the movie the people talk about how rich the soil is in this area. They also talk about using their own feces as part of the fertilizer they use on the crops. We recieve a lot of knowledge as these simple yet happy people share their wisdom of how to get Mother Nature to yield up her gifts.

When winter turns into spring and summer we are able to see the almost magical bounty that these growers are able to produce. We see barren fruit trees in winter filled with friut a few months later. They not only raise all kinds of vegetables but they also have pigs and other livestock that  provide them a substantial  diet.

One aspect of the film that I found extremely endearing was the way the men and women treat each other. There is no male domination up there. I found it thrilling to see a young woman splitting wood and doing an excellent job. The couples in the movie were very respectful of each other. I got the feeling that the couples  felt that they were equal partners in life. They helped each other to get what they needed to survive.

One sad note was that the older people, who had been there for many years, knew that they did not have the stamina to maintain this way of life. It takes a strong, physically active person to continue to live in this manner.

Even so, this was a wonderful community. I felt a aura of appreciation and cooperation that is sorely missing from the lives that most of us are living. Their joy of living out in nature gave them an understanding about life and what is important: namely each other and perserving the land. This movie is definately provides the viewer with a   breath of fresh air.