When dermatologist June Irwin first stood up in 1985 to speak at a Hudson, Quebec, town council meeting about the potential link between synthetic lawn pesticide and herbicide use and human and animal illnesses, she was written off as a flake. Irwin persisted, though, attending “every single town meeting in Hudson for six consecutive years – each time reading aloud a different letter with new observations and facts.” Eventually, she got her message across, and Hudson (population 5000) became the first town in North America to ban the use of these chemicals.
This week, Irwin’s story hits the big screen at film festivals in Boston and Sonoma, California. The independent documentary A CHEMICAL REACTION premiered in August in Montreal, and received rave reviews from critics: MovieMaker magazine called it “one of the most eye-opening documentaries I’ve ever seen.” Narrated by Paul Tukey, the founder of SafeLawns, the film tells the story of Hudson’s recognition of the potential dangers of chemicals used primarily for aesthetic purposes, the pushback the town received from the producers of these products, and the movement started by June Irwin’s tenacity.
A Chemical Reaction is also scheduled to screen at the Camden (Maine) International Film Festival, the New Jersey Film Festival, and the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival. If you’re near one of these venues, check it out… and let us know what you think.
September 24th, 2009 - 12:25 am
Thank you for making and distributing this important film. Finally…………….
September 24th, 2009 - 12:03 pm
I’m excited about this one, too, Renee… hoping it makes it to the Midwest!
September 24th, 2009 - 9:38 pm
My husband and I were at the screening of “A Chemical Reaction” in Boston yesterday and were thoroughly impressed! What a great film. The story was intriguing and extremely well documented. The producers did a wonderful job and should be quite proud . They should also be complemented about their tenacity and perseverance in getting out this very important message. Change is definitely occurring, if not as fast as we would like, thanks to the people who made this movie.
Keep up the good work. I hope the film gets great distribution – it’s a terrific way to get the word out!
September 24th, 2009 - 9:40 pm
I was at the premiere in Boston yesterday and I thought the film was very well done and very powerful.
September 24th, 2009 - 9:59 pm
An important piece of work. I hope people get to see it and respond.
September 24th, 2009 - 9:59 pm
I say the film a few weeks ago at the World Premiere in Montreal and had to sit in the next to the front row because it was almost sold out. I loved the film, but it’s probably too intelligent for an American audience. Of course, that’s the opinion of a Canadian — which is defined as an unarmed North American with health insurance!
It would be great to think that Americans would actually watch a movie like this!
September 24th, 2009 - 10:05 pm
I agree with John. I was at the Montreal premiere, too, and the Americans won’t go for a film this smart because no one is getting killed (at least directly) and no one is having sex. But it was refreshing to go see a movie that really offers a lot of entertainment AND education in the same package. Very tightly edited.
September 24th, 2009 - 10:12 pm
[...] opinions. If you’ve seen the film or the trailer, please let them know what you think: http://www.sundancechannel.com/sunfiltered/2009/09/a-chemical-reaction-comes-to-the-film-festival-circuit/c... Share and [...]
September 24th, 2009 - 11:01 pm
My grandmother used to eat her dandelions, so I never understood why anyone would put poisons down to kill them. I hope the Canadian laws do come to the U.S.
September 25th, 2009 - 12:34 pm
I attended the Boston premiere, too, and was very impressed. Paul Tukey’s passion for this issue, added to the interest and activism this film will create, is certainly going to get some serious discussion started here in the US, and probably alot more than that. PS to our Canadian friends: I have to watch “An Inconvenient Truth” again. I must have missed the sex scenes!
September 25th, 2009 - 7:52 pm
I was at the Boston premiere and left feeling ready to take action. I’ve not been one to back down from Goliath, and I know how powerful grass roots can be. (Pun intended.) I will start with my not-so Tru Green neighbor.