Farmer/Veteran 2017
Distributed by Passion River Films, 154 Mt. Bethel Rd., Warren, NJ 07059; 732-321-0711
Produced by Alix Blair, Jeremy Lange
Directed by Alix Blair, Jeremy Lange, D.L. Anderson
DVD, color, 65 min.
High School - General Adult
Veterans, Farmers, Biography, North Carolina, Iraq War, 2003-2011, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Sociology, Psychology
Date Entered: 03/08/2018
Reviewed by Michael Fein, Coordinator of Library Services, Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg, VAFarming has been seen as a way to help veterans deal with their traumas and the USDA along with several states have programs to assist veterans in establishing farms of their own. As an historical aside, think of how the westward migration after the Civil War was born out of the energy of veterans, many of whom would now be diagnosed with PTSD. This production looks at the life and service of Alex Sutton, a veteran of three tours in Iraq, and the proprietor of Sutton Heritage Farms near Jackson Spring, North Carolina. Sutton suffers from PTSD, which seems to have contributed greatly to the end of his first marriage and does affect him and his new family. We see Sutton interacting with his family, fellow veterans, and his work on the farm. All of this is overshadowed by his PTSD and the treatment of it – consisting of a huge cocktail of drugs. He seems most relaxed when fishing with his wife. This production is flawless technically. Sutton’s refusal to give in and his perseverance are admirable. Military collections should consider as well as those in sociology and psychology.
Awards
- Brooklyn Film Festival, Best Documentary Jury Prize
- Macon Film Festival, Best Southern Documentary
- Charlotte Film Festival, Best Documentary
- Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, Southern Stories Jury Prize
- New Orleans Film Festival, Jury Award Finalist