Selections from the 2026 Green Film Fest of San Francisco, Part 2
Two features, two shorts.
Dear Moviegoers,
As with the past few years, I've been happy to review films from the Green Film Festival of San Francisco - an in-person and virtual showcase for eco-friendly and environmentally conscious narrative and documentary movies. And so, of course, 2026 is no exception.
The Green Film Festival of San Francisco takes place from 10/15 to 10/22. Click over to its official website for the full lineup, online streaming options, and more.
All throughout Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong, there's a sensation of pride and American relatability that comes about when watching men of youth and wisdom, respectively, operating public works projects and keeping communities running as smoothly as possible. "Smoothly" being an important word here, as the roles in question involve the treatment and disposal of sewage and waste materials. Everyone flushes, the flow continues, and someone has to handle the nasty.
In essence, the shit rolls downhill. And the truthful humor of that line is not lost on the staff of Portland, Maine's treatment facilities. As depicted in this fun and ful"filling" documentary, the labor behind our collective stinks and smells, the end and the beginning of clean reusable water, are shown as hard working and happy-go-lucky. From chili competitions to office jargon, these treatment plant operators are both cut-ups and field experts, knowledgeable in the art of banter as much as the craft of keeping everyone and everything healthy. Not all heroes wear capes, but most know their way around a wrench or two.
For a film that is braced around a disposal emergency and a forever chemical problem, Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong sure is concentrated on the fundamentals of forward thinking, positive reinforcement, and progressive outlooks. There's a camaraderie expressed that doesn't go unnoticed, and is most welcome in a documentary that could've been less-than-exciting. No, this isn't "action-packed" or "thrilling" even, more on the level with something like an episode of a Dirty Jobs-type TV show. Slightly.
That level is more balanced with community and culture than silliness and screwball grossness. Shots of festivals and gatherings are strewn around average daily and nightly labor in wastewater treatment, to show what this crew is missing and what they're working to keep together, which is a worry-free populace that takes safe water for granted. And a quiet day is a perfect day.
Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong couldn't be more cheerful if it cried pipe tears and mopped them up with clown wigs. It's a blast to see industrial workers in the public sector keeping us all blissfully in the dark about where our dinners end up, and how our bathwater returns. It's especially nice knowing that office rapport extends beyond paper companies and salesmen, as it is. Informative, but people first. Solutions-driven, but real.
A documentary from President Biden's years of infrastructure work. What a time to be left alone. 4/5
Randall Grahm, this neo-hippie, Frank Zappa-listening, soft-talking California winemaker, in his 70s, grows into and out of his desire to create new and interesting wines. The Terroirist - yes, that spelling is correct (I hope) - if not just about Mr. Grahm, could be described as an anti-propaganda piece on the farming of grapes, specifically hybrid blends. "Anti," because as the movie moves along, interest will diminish, and the reverse effect of a fluff flick will take hold.
I'm no expert on wine at all, but from watching the too-long and over-wrought Terroirist, I can safely suggest that I know less than before. Granted, it's more about the man behind the merlot, but even as a biography or documentary, rather, there's an unfortunate lackluster tastelessness that could've been avoided by more definition of insider talk and Randall Grahm character than redundant conversations and superficial meanderings. Is this what happens at wine tastings, between the sips and the spits?
Now, please don't take my words as scripture, as whenever Randall Grahm is on camera - which is 95% of the time - his whimsical and soulfully humorous nature comes through crystal clear. He loves to take the piss out of what he does and what others do, no matter how much he cares for innovation and lovely textures and tones. The movie cares for him greatly, as do the supporting subjects around him. And why not? He's absolutely delightful, with the personal palette of a personable person. I'd buy wine from him, and I don't even drink.
The Terroirist's main claim to almost shame is that it's too long and thinly stretched. There's plenty to love here, but it's oh so bogged down by the very feet that are stomping and mashing its fruits and seeds. There's a connection between man and land and drink that's palpable and almost spiritually cosmic, expressed as the most important aspect of the film and of Randall Grahm's very being. This is nice, but is it the whole feature? Should it be?
Take your time with this one, and maybe it'll turn out more complex than I noticed. Certainly, my buds are not completely on with its taste. 2.5/5
Many things get lost in translation with elderly parents. More so when part of a Vietnamese family living in Australia. Dad vs Bees, on the surface, is an overly amusing and cute story about a son who sets out to make a film about an offbeat encounter his father had in the family garden. From bees to trees, from bad knees to what about me, the short documentary has a funny go about itself, recognizing the inherent silliness of assisting parents into adulthood, and the feelings that can bubble up.
Over its 20-minute duration, Dad vs Bees unfolds as a farcical sentimental outing, often poking fun at language barriers and misunderstandings. Wasps are not Bees, but they sure do sting all the same. It's interesting to watch as the grown-up children - one of whom is an immediate caretaker of sorts - explain things as thoroughly as possible, while the aging parents, who do struggle with cultural interpretations, seem to be more on the ball than meets the mind. Still, it's funny to watch.
It's funny for as long as the filmmaking son wants it to be, I mean.
With not much drama, no tension, but lots of love, Dad vs Bees is sweet, lively, and spry. Simple, but ample. 3/5
When I think about the late biologist Joanne Chory, as presented in Plant Life, I can't help but think of the scientists from two of the best positive-thinking and solution-forward films in somewhat recent memory: The Martian and Interstellar. Sure, those two features were primarily space-based (though The Martian involved growing plants on Mars), but the pro-science aspects of both stories, I trust, have inspired people to learn more about climate change.
Joanne spent many years studying the ins and outs of plants, eventually coming to the goal of using what comes from the soil to capture carbon back into the Earth, in an effort to fight against the warming of the planet. This would involve editing the very DNA of plants and other scientific advancements that I'm not so up to speed on, or perhaps even articulate enough to grasp and talk about. Plant Life showcases her immense charm and super-powered eagerness to, well, save the world, while racing against time herself.
Parkinson's Disease eventually took its toll on her, but not before initial successes in her project began to sprout. As Plant Life shows through her speeches and studies, change is possible, and hope isn't irrational, even and especially when staring death in the face. As she did. As we all are.
I can think of a few more science-first movies to compare Joanne to, but in truth, her work eclipses those of cinema's best. Because her work was and still is happening. Now. In reality.
That's cool. 4/5