Can an 84-year old grandmother, inspired by her environmentally conscious grandson,persuade the town of Concord Massachusetts to ban single-serving bottled water? Jean Hill has tried before, but this time she’s enlisted the aid of Jill Appel, a Harvard University Law School graduate.
Ms. Adriana Cohen, who opposes the idea, observes, “…When a person no longer has the liberty to decide for themselves and their children what products they’re going to put in their body and what products they’re going to buy, we no longer live in a free society.”
So, can Hill and Appel take on the huge bottled water industry? That’s the subject of Divide In Concord, a documentary airing on WORLD Channel on Tuesday, March 15th (8/7C). Follow the jump for further details.
| Kris Kaczor and Dave Regos’ documentary DIVIDE IN CONCORD will air Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at 8 p.m. on WORLD Channel (check local listings), as part of the fourth season of AMERICA REFRAMED, public media’s newest documentary series hosted by Natasha Del Toro.
In Concord, Massachusetts residents hold fast to their town’s legendary status. It holds a special place in U.S. history as the site of the initial conflict which led to the American Revolution. Concord was also home to abolitionists and philosophers, as well as celebrated writers such as Louisa May Alcott and Henry David Thoreau, a proponent of the environmental preservation movement.
DIVIDE IN CONCORD is an engaging tale about a contemporary debate: individual freedom versus collective responsibility, and how this relates to American democracy. The Declaration of Independence states that man has certain unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But in today’s society where is the line drawn between consumer freedom and responsibility? Driving the film’s narrative and the town’s democratic debate is a fiery 84-year-old widow and mother of four, Jean Hill. Inspired by her environmentally conscious grandson, she presents a bylaw to ban the sale of single-serve plastic water bottles. In Concord, one way of exercising democracy is through a town meeting. The forum, a centuries old tradition, gives the right to an individual citizen to bring a measure up to vote. Many local townspeople don’t agree with Hill’s ideas, and she has been defeated in past town hall meetings. One opponent, Ms. Adriana Cohen, observes, “…When a person no longer has the liberty to decide for themselves and their children what products they’re going to put in their body and what products they’re going to buy, we no longer live in a free society.” The grandmother-turned-activist enlists the support of Jill Appel, a Harvard University Law School graduate. Together they forge a new coalition, but can one grandmother take on the bottled water industry? AMERICA REFRAMED’S presentation of DIVIDE IN CONCORD on the WORLD Channel includes a moderated conversation with researcher and oceanographer, Kara Lavender Law. She will help us understand how empty plastic water bottles and the pollution they generate impact the world’s ecosystem. Additionally, Professor Lavender Law will update us on the latest insights around recycling, conservation and the solutions-oriented research underway to help ensure clean air and water for future generations. Film Credits About AMERICA REFRAMED Season 4 of AMERICA REFRAMED curates a diverse selection of films highlighting innovative and artistic approaches to storytelling from emerging and veteran filmmakers alike. Viewers will be immersed in personal stories from the streets of towns big and small to the exurbs and country roads that span the spectrum of American life. The documentaries invite audiences to reflect on topics as varied as culture, healthcare, politics, gun violence, religion and more. Several episodes feature a roundtable discussion moderated by host Natasha Del Toro with special guest commentators and filmmakers. In 2015, AMERICA REFRAMED won a GRACIE Outstanding Series award, and was nominated for an EMMY award as well as an Independent Documentary Association award for best curated series. In its first season, AMERICA REFRAMED received five 2013 CINE Golden Eagle Awards, and one Imagen Awards nomination. |
