Documentary explores dirty relationship

The relationship between dirt and humans couldn’t be closer. We started our journey together as stardust, swirled by cosmic forces into our galaxy, solar system, and planet. We are made of the same stuff. Four billion years of evolution created dirt as the living source of all life on Earth including humans. Dirt has given us food, shelter, fuel, medicine, ceramics, flowers, cosmetics and color – everything needed for our survival.

For most of the last ten thousand years humans understood our intimate bond with dirt and the rest of nature. They took care of the soils that took care of them. But, over time, humanity has lost that connection. Because of greed and carelessness, human beings now abuse and ignore it, though we continue to depend on it.

“DIRT! The Movie” – narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis – brings to life the environmental, economic, social, and political impact that the soil has. It shares the stories of experts from all over the world who study and are able to harness the beauty and power of a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship with soil.

As much as it is a history and science lesson, “DIRT! The Movie” is a call to action. “When humans arrived 2 million years ago, everything changed for dirt. And from that moment on, the fate of dirt and humans has been intimately linked.”

The Second Saturday Documentary Series offers a free screening of “DIRT! The Movie” on Saturday, April 9, 1:30 p.m., at Niles Discovery Church, 36600 Niles Blvd., Fremont. Donations are welcome to help defray costs. A discussion led will follow the screening.

This screening is part of the Second Saturday Documentary Series, a film series co-sponsored by Niles Discovery Church and the San Jose Peace and Justice Center. This screening is also co-sponsored by the Economic Justice Film Series that acquired the rights to show the film.