Moviehouse will screen Pollan film, 'Botany of Desire,' Oct. 11

MILLERTON — For many Tri-state residents, author and food evangelist Michael Pollan’s writings about eating locally grown foods are more than just words or interesting ideas.

They’re a way of life.

Pollan is a prolific author, and a frequent contributor to The New York Times’ Sunday magazine.

Two of his newest books are “In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifestoâ€� and “The Omnivore’s Dilemma.â€� One of his earlier books, “The Botany of Desire,â€�  has now been translated from words on paper to moving images on a screen. PBS has made a two-hour documentary inspired by the book. It will air on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 8 p.m. (check local listings as well).

And, because of Pollan’s connections to the area, The Moviehouse in Millerton has been invited to do an early screening of the film.

As part of the FilmWorks Forum series, “The Botany of Desire� will be shown at The Moviehouse on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 11:30 a.m. The screening is open to the public and free of charge.

“We were very excited to hear that ‘Botany of Desire,’ a book written by our local hero Michael Pollan, was being made into a movie,� said Carol Sadlon, an owner of The Moviehouse. “And we’re fortunate that PBS agreed to the screening at The Moviehouse.

“‘Botany of Desire’ is a complex story that explores the relationship of people to tulips, apples, cannabis and the potato.… It’s a story told by a wonderful, entertaining writer who has a tremendous capacity to connect the dots and help us look at the world in a different way, and to realize that we are only part of the fabric of nature — and not necessarily the most important part. You may leave the theater with a profoundly different view of where we stand in nature, and who controls who.

“This is a timely, thoughtful and provocative film. It helps us to question our exploitation of the environment and think about how we can correct it.�

The audience is invited to stay after the screening and exchange ideas.