The Biggest Little Farm
{{Infobox film
| name = The Biggest little Farm
| image = The biggest little farm poster.png
| caption = One of US theatrical release posters
| director = John Chester
| producer = {{ubl|Sandra Keats|John Chester}}
| writer = {{ubl|John Chester|Mark Monroe}}
| starring = {{ubl|John Chester|Molly Chester}}
| music = Jeff Beal
| cinematography = {{ubl|John Chester|Benji Lanpher|Mallory Cunningham|Chris Martin|Kyle Romanek}}
| editing = Amy Overbeck
| studio = {{Plainlist|
- LD Entertainment
- FarmLore Films
- Impact Partners
- Artemis Rising Foundation
}}
| distributor = Neon
| released = {{film date|2018|08|28|Telluride|ref1=[https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/the-biggest-little-farm-review-1202922977/ "Telluride Film Review: ‘The Biggest Little Farm’"]. Variety, September 1, 2018.|2019|05|10|United States}}
| runtime = 92 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
| gross = $5 million{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=biggestlittlefarm.htm|title=The Biggest Little Farm (2019)|website=Box Office Mojo|accessdate=August 23, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Biggest-Little-Farm-The-(Documentary)-(2019)#tab=summary|title=The Biggest Little Farm (2019)|website=The Numbers|accessdate=October 11, 2019}}
}}
The Biggest Little Farm is a 2018 American documentary film, directed by John Chester.[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/biggest-little-farm-review-1141275 "'The Biggest Little Farm': Film Review | Telluride 2018"]. The Hollywood Reporter, September 9, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/daytime-creative-arts-emmy-awards-winners-2018-list-1202378665/|title=Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards: 'Bold And The Beautiful', 'Sesame Street' Top Winners|first1=Patrick|last1=Hipes|date=28 April 2018|publisher=}} The film profiles the life of John Chester and his wife Molly as they acquire and establish themselves on Apricot Lane Farms in Moorpark, California.[https://variety.com/2018/film/markets-festivals/toronto-neon-documentary-the-biggest-little-farm-1202936417/ "Toronto: Neon Lands Documentary ‘The Biggest Little Farm’"]. Variety, September 11, 2018.
The film premiered on September 1, 2018, at the Telluride Film Festival.[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/neon-takes-tiff-doc-biggest-little-farm-north-america-1142067 "Toronto: Neon Takes 'The Biggest Little Farm' Doc for North America"]. The Hollywood Reporter, September 11, 2018. It had its second screening at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was named second runner-up for the People's Choice Award: Documentaries.[https://www.screendaily.com/news/green-book-boosts-awards-season-prospects-with-tiff-audience-award-win/5132687.article "'Green Book' boosts awards season prospects with TIFF audience award win"]. Screen Daily, September 16, 2018. It was selected as the Opening Night film at Doc NYC in November 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.docnyc.net/featured/the-biggest-little-farm-announced-as-the-2018-opening-night-film/|title=The Biggest Little Farm announced as the 2018 Opening Night Film!|publisher=}} The film was screened as part of the Spotlight Section at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. It also screened at the 29th New Orleans Film Festival on October 24, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://neworleansfilmsociety.org/events/the-biggest-little-farm/|title=The Biggest Little Farm {{!}} New Orleans Film Society|website=neworleansfilmsociety.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-30}}
The film was acquired for theatrical distribution by the independent film company Neon, and was released on May 10, 2019 in Los Angeles and New York. The film expanded into Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Nashville, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., on May 17 and additional markets throughout May and June. The film was acquired by The Exchange for international distribution.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/the-biggest-little-farm-lands-at-the-exchange-for-international-separately-scores-key-deals-exclusive/5135881.article|title='The Biggest Little Farm' lands at The Exchange for international, separately scores key deals (exclusive)|first=Jeremy|last=Kay|website=Screen|date=2019-01-17}}
A sequel special, The Biggest Little Farm: The Return, was released in 2022 on Disney+.{{cite web |last1=Pennacchio |first1=George |title='The Biggest Little Farm: The Return' marks a new look at a Ventura County farming couple |url=https://abc7.com/biggest-little-farm-disney-earth-month-ventura-county/11778569/ |website=KABC-TV |publisher=ABC Owned Television Stations |access-date=September 19, 2023 |date=April 23, 2022}}
Synopsis
In 2010, married couple Molly and John Chester decide to leave their old lives in Los Angeles behind and purchase a 234-acre farm near Moorpark in neighboring Ventura County, California. Rechristening it "Apricot Lane Farms", the couple spends the next seven years transforming the arid landscape into a fully functional farm and biodiverse habitat for neighboring flora and fauna. They face hardship as the difficulties of keeping a farm running mount up, often resulting in frustration and anger, but also happiness at their harmonious relationship with nature.
Reception
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads, "Uplifting, educational, and entertaining, The Biggest Little Farm is an environmental advocacy documentary with a satisfying side dish of hope for the future."{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_biggest_little_farm|title=The Biggest Little Farm (2018)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}} On Metacritic, it holds a 74 out of 100 score (indicating "generally favorable reviews") based on 25 critics.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The Biggest Little Farm|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-biggest-little-farm|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=October 10, 2020|website=metacritic.com}}
In his Variety review of the film, Peter DeBruge noted that it "feel[s] like fresh air for the soul.",{{cite web |last1=Debruge |first1=Peter |title=Telluride Film Review: 'The Biggest Little Farm' |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/the-biggest-little-farm-review-1202922977/ |website=Variety}} and New York Times critic Glenn Kenny wrote "it may also revive your wonder at the weird but ultimately awe-inspiring ways in which humans can help nature do its work".{{cite web |last1=Kenny |first1=Glenn |title='The Biggest Little Farm' Review: The Pleasures of D.I.Y. Agriculture |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/09/movies/the-biggest-little-farm-review.html}} Additionally, The Los Angeles Times's Robert Abele wrote that the film is a "lush tour of transformed land and photogenic fauna, is so appealing as a chronicle of dedicated do-gooders who actually did good (and shot every frame of it). [...] Watching the Chesters fight past disillusionment to learn the real lessons of harvesting in communion with nature is what gives the movie its rousing, illuminating power."{{subscription required}}{{cite web |last1=Abele |first1=Robert |title=Review: 'The Biggest Little Farm' is a winning doc about a couple's agricultural dream |website=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-biggest-little-farm-documentary-20190509-story.html}}
Several reviewers were critical of the film's lack of specifics on the initial investment and economics of the farm.{{cite news |last1=Hertz |first1=Barry |title=The Biggest Little Farm is a great ad for manure, but doesn't pass the documentary smell-test |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-the-biggest-little-farm-is-a-great-ad-for-manure-but-doesnt-pass-the/ |access-date=15 July 2023 |date=15 May 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Murthi |first1=Vikram |title=The Biggest Little Farm is a simplified, PR-friendly look at an agricultural triumph |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-biggest-little-farm-is-a-simplified-pr-friendly-lo-1834586942 |access-date=15 July 2023 |date=8 May 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Lynn |first1=Hannah |title=The Biggest Little Farm highlights and hides the difficulties of running a farm |url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/arts-entertainment/the-biggest-little-farm-highlights-and-hides-the-difficulties-of-running-a-farm-15016722 |access-date=15 July 2023 |date=22 May 2019}}
On December 4, 2019, the film's composer, Jeff Beal, conducted the Hollywood Chamber Orchestra, performing his score live to picture at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles.{{Cite web |date=2019-12-11 |title=Award-Winning Composer Jeff Beal Conducts “The Biggest Little Farm” Live-to-Picture |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/award-winning-composer-jeff-beal-conducts-the-biggest-little-farm-live-to-p |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=BMI.com |language=en}}
Awards and nominations
A list of nominations and awards the film has received is as follows:
- Palm Springs International Film Festival – Audience Award for Best Documentary {{cite web|url=https://www.psfilmfest.org/news/30th-annual-palm-springs-international-film-festival-announces-award-winners|title=30th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Announces Award Winners - Palm Springs International Film Festival|website=www.psfilmfest.org}}
- Toronto International Film Festival – Second runner-up for The Grolsch People's Choice Documentary Award {{cite web|url=https://www.tiff.net/the-review/tiff-18-award-winners|title=Announcing the TIFF '18 Award Winners|website=TIFF}}
- Sundance Film Festival – Runner-up for the Festival Favorite Award {{cite web|url=https://www.sundance.org/blogs/news/2019-festival-favorite-award-knock-down-the-house|title=2019 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL: KNOCK DOWN THE HOUSE WINS FESTIVAL FAVORITE AWARD|first1=|date=5 February 2019|website=www.sundance.org}}
- American Film Institute Fest – Audience Award for Best Feature {{cite web|url=http://blog.afi.com/afi-fest-2018-award-winners/|title=Announcing AFI FEST 2018 Audience and Jury Award Winners|publisher=}}
- Boulder Film Festival – Grand Jury Prize for Feature Length Film {{cite web|url=https://biff1.com/about/archives/2019-awards/|title=2019 Awards – BIFF – Boulder International Film Festival|publisher=}}
- Boulder Film Festival – Best Documentary
- Mill Valley Film Festival – Silver Audience Award for Valley of the Docs Presentation {{cite web|url=https://www.mvff.com/mvff41-audience-favourites/|title=MVFF41 AUDIENCE FAVOURITES – Mill Valley Film Festival|website=www.mvff.com}}
- Hamptons International Film Festival – Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature {{cite web|url=http://hamptonsfilmfest.org/features/hiff-2018-awards-announced/|title=HIFF 2018 Awards Announced|website=hamptonsfilmfest.org}}
- Middleburg Film Festival – Audience Award for Best Documentary {{cite web|url=https://www.vimooz.com/2018/10/22/green-book-and-biggest-little-farm-win-audience-awards-at-middleburg-film-festival-32318/|title=GREEN BOOK and BIGGEST LITTLE FARM Win Audience Awards at Middleburg Film Festival|date=22 October 2018|website=VIMOOZ}}
- Annapolis Film Festival – Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary {{cite web|url=http://annapolisfilmfestival.com/|title=Annapolis Film Festival - Home|website=Annapolis Film Festival}}
- Gasparilla Film Festival – Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature Documentary
- Sedona Film Festival – Best of the Fest {{cite web|url=https://sedonafilmfestival.com/2018-festival-award-winners/|title=2019 Festival Award Winners|website=Sedona International Film Festival}}
- Sedona Film Festival – Director's Choice Award for Best Documentary
- 92nd Oscars Shortlist – Documentary Feature
== Distribution ==
The film is distributed by Energia in Latin America. It is currently available for streaming in Netflix Latin America as "Mi gran pequeña granja".{{cite web|url=https://www.netflix.com/watch/81031829?trackId=255824129&tctx=0%2C0%2CNAPA%40%40%7C8e3c1e91-2537-41b9-a0b0-310f539399f5-51057258_titles%2F1%2F%2FBIggest%20little%2F0%2F0%2CNAPA%40%40%7C8e3c1e91-2537-41b9-a0b0-310f539399f5-51057258_titles%2F1%2F%2FBIggest%20little%2F0%2F0%2Cunknown%2C%2C8e3c1e91-2537-41b9-a0b0-310f539399f5-51057258%7C1%2CtitlesResults%2C81031829/|title=The Biggest Little Farm in Netflix Latin America|website=Netflix }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|url=https://www.biggestlittlefarmmovie.com/}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfDTM4JxHl8&t=8s/ Official trailer]
- [https://www.apricotlanefarms.com/ Apricot Lane Farms] website
- {{IMDb title|8969332}}
- {{Mojo title|biggestlittlefarm}}
- {{rotten-tomatoes}}
- {{Metacritic film|title=The Biggest Little Farm}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Biggest Little Farm, The}}
Category:2018 documentary films
Category:American documentary films
Category:Documentary films about agriculture in the United States
Category:Documentary films about California
Category:Films set in Ventura County, California
Category:Films shot in Ventura County, California
Category:Films scored by Jeff Beal
Category:LD Entertainment films
Category:Agriculture in California