Planeat

Planeat is a groundbreaking documentary from 2010 that wields the power of film to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing humanity — the sustainability and health of our food system. This film brings together a powerful roster of speakers, including respected nutrition biochemist Professor T. Colin Campbell, renowned epidemiologist Sir Richard Doll, and environmental physicist Dr. Gidon Eshel.

The film explores the claim that the Western world's love affair with meat and dairy products is harming our health, environmental stability, and aiding the acceleration of climatic change. It ventures into the significant subject matter of how our choices about food — what we eat and where it comes from — can dramatically impact the world around us.

Across the length of the documentary, we are taken on a global journey. From the vibrant markets and bustling streets of India, the byways of rural Kentucky to the sterile aisles of the American supermarket dream, filmmakers Shelley Lee Davis and Or Shlomi cover a wide range of geographic and topical terrain. The film extends its reach into the culinary traditions of different cultures, the science behind our dietary choices, the impact of agriculture on environments, and the tantalizing possibilities of a plant-based future.

Leading the movie’s analysis is Dr. T. Colin Campbell, the world-renowned nutrition scientist who spent his career studying the effects of animal protein on human health. His extensive research, summarized in his bestselling book "The China Study", has revolutionized our understanding of the connection between diet and disease. This documentary deep dives into Dr. Campbell’s research, unveiling the profound implications that dietary choices have on health, particularly the role of meat and dairy in the genesis and progress of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Paired with Campbell's insights, we see the work of Sir Richard Doll, an experienced epidemiologist whose work has undeniably linked diet and lifestyle to the incidence of disease. Doll’s work, spanning over several decades, also highlights the undeniable links between diet and diseases, affirming numerous times that a predominantly plant-focused diet can be a powerful tool in disease prevention.

Dr. Gidon Eshel, on the other hand, provides a piercing look into how our food choices impact the environment. As an environmental physicist, he employs intricate methodologies to analyze the environmental footprints of various food sources. In Planeat, Eshel specialized in the environmental effects of livestock, with the documentary exploring the heightened water and carbon footprint associated with meat and dairy, as opposed to fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains.

While the many statistics and studies presented in the film are powerful, Planeat packs a punch in its human stories too. Case studies and anecdotal narratives offer a ground-level look at how food choices impact people's lives. Distinctive chefs from around the world are featured, revealing how they make plant-based diets delicious and accessible, dispelling the myth that giving up meat and dairy means giving up taste and satisfaction.

Digestible to the layperson yet intellectually challenging to the knowledgeable, Planeat reframes the food narrative in a way that provokes thought and encourages action. The film does a commendable job of providing solid science and hard facts, meditating on in-depth information while still maintaining an accessible platform for those perhaps unfamiliar with the topics covered. The animation segues are bold and creatively conceived, acting in harmony with a clear, compelling narration.

Despite alarming revelations and dire warnings, Planeat, at its heart, is uplifting. Concluding not on a note of despair, but instead a call to personal and collective action. It postulates the potential of sustainable agriculture systems and the benefits of plant-based diets for health and environmental well-being.

Planeat is not just a film about food; it's a contemplation on the profound connection between what we eat, how we live, and the health of our planet. It is an eye-opening exploration on the link between diet and health, and the immense environmental impact our food choices carry. It leaves the viewers with a powerful call to action that feels personal and global – change the way you eat, and you could change the world.