Ms van Heemstra takes us on a meandering, thoughtful journey of the food cycle in New York. Sitting on a subway, she ponders what happens to all of the human waste fifteen million people produce. On that notion, she investigates and follows the cycle to sanitation plant, to manure factory, to Florida tomato fields, to New York fruit market, to restaurant, and back again. It's not just about "her" tomato, though. Ms van Heemstra observes the people involved in the cycle and their own personal stories, as well.
This piece is more than just documentary about the tomato industry in New York. It includes many personalities involved, soundscapes, the narrator, and some interesting sound moments. The meandering pace appealed to me, so many anecdotes, I feel like this producer used tomatoes as an excuse to take a really interesting trip around the city and have a lot of fun producing a piece. For that, I love it, it's refreshing.
Do you like shaggy dog stories? I do, and this is a great one. Following a tomato in its journey back to New York is only a semi-interesting conceit, but the stories that go along with it are magnificent--especially the pugilistic truck driver, who is a latter-day Damon Runyon character. If you know Joe Mitchell's finest work (and if you don't, you have a treat in store) you will realize the tradition of New York stories to which this belongs. A few more facts might have been helpful--like how much of these biosolids are actually used--but what the hell. This is a very fine piece, from a mind that will clearly produce much more of value. I can't wait.
The way the piece was constructed made it sort of interesting to listen to. On several occasions, I kept expecting to hear actualities, but the narrator instead went on with her story, describing what happened in her own words rather than playing clips of the action. Some of the time I didn't mind that, but other times I felt myself wanting to hear more. Good use of ambient sound behind the narration, though.
I like the informal and conversational tone of the piece. I got a good sense of what the scene was like.
There were a few times around 9:10 and 14:03 when the narrator cleared her throat or re-started her sentence. I'm not sure if that was a glitch or if that was intentionally left in as some sort of modernist convention, but I suspect the former. Either way, if was a bit distracting.
Comments for The Tomato and The Big Apple
Produced by Alwine van Heemstra
Other pieces by Alwine van Heemstra
Rating Summary
4 comments
R. Tyler Mack
Posted on March 30, 2005 at 09:00 AM | Permalink
Review of The Tomato and The Big Apple
Ms van Heemstra takes us on a meandering, thoughtful journey of the food cycle in New York. Sitting on a subway, she ponders what happens to all of the human waste fifteen million people produce. On that notion, she investigates and follows the cycle to sanitation plant, to manure factory, to Florida tomato fields, to New York fruit market, to restaurant, and back again. It's not just about "her" tomato, though. Ms van Heemstra observes the people involved in the cycle and their own personal stories, as well.
Laura Vitale
Posted on February 09, 2005 at 07:12 PM | Permalink
Review of The Tomato and The Big Apple
This piece is more than just documentary about the tomato industry in New York. It includes many personalities involved, soundscapes, the narrator, and some interesting sound moments. The meandering pace appealed to me, so many anecdotes, I feel like this producer used tomatoes as an excuse to take a really interesting trip around the city and have a lot of fun producing a piece. For that, I love it, it's refreshing.
Bill McKibben
Posted on February 09, 2005 at 07:53 AM | Permalink
Review of The Tomato and The Big Apple
Do you like shaggy dog stories? I do, and this is a great one. Following a tomato in its journey back to New York is only a semi-interesting conceit, but the stories that go along with it are magnificent--especially the pugilistic truck driver, who is a latter-day Damon Runyon character. If you know Joe Mitchell's finest work (and if you don't, you have a treat in store) you will realize the tradition of New York stories to which this belongs. A few more facts might have been helpful--like how much of these biosolids are actually used--but what the hell. This is a very fine piece, from a mind that will clearly produce much more of value. I can't wait.
Scott Gurian
Posted on July 17, 2004 at 10:14 AM | Permalink
Review of The Tomato and The Big Apple
The way the piece was constructed made it sort of interesting to listen to. On several occasions, I kept expecting to hear actualities, but the narrator instead went on with her story, describing what happened in her own words rather than playing clips of the action. Some of the time I didn't mind that, but other times I felt myself wanting to hear more. Good use of ambient sound behind the narration, though.
I like the informal and conversational tone of the piece. I got a good sense of what the scene was like.
There were a few times around 9:10 and 14:03 when the narrator cleared her throat or re-started her sentence. I'm not sure if that was a glitch or if that was intentionally left in as some sort of modernist convention, but I suspect the former. Either way, if was a bit distracting.