The Real Dirt on Farmer John (2007)
85%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 1 nomination
Ostensibly a bio about an eccentric farmer, The Real Dirt on Farmer John also doubles as a stirring exploration of man’s common struggle with loss and prejudice
The Real Dirt on Farmer John is a documentary that will make you laugh, cry, and want to start your own farm. It’s a heartwarming story of a man who went through ups and downs but never gave up on his dream of organic farming. Even if you’re not interested in farming, you’ll find yourself rooting for John Peterson and his family. Plus, who doesn’t love a good rebel with a cause? This film is a must-watch for anyone who wants to be inspired and entertained.
Production Company(ies)
Société Nouvelle Pathé Cinéma
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2006
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 21, 2005 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2008
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, farmer, loss, prejudice, Taggart Siegel, Teri Lang, John Peterson, organic agriculture, bio, bankruptcy, depression, Midwest, eccentric, performance art, Illinois, English, Jan 21 2005, Aug 15 2008, $34.3K, 1h 22m, Kevin Crust, Ella Taylor, Frank Scheck, J.R Jones, Owen Gleiberman, Joshua Land, Peter Calder, Urban Cinefile Critics, Christopher Campbell, Glenn Whipp, Andrew Wright, Gianni Truzzi, reviewed by critics, 88% Tomatometer, 78% audience score, inspiring, humorous, dramatic, moving, alternative Americana, likable oddball, rebel, down-home, baby boomer ideals, progressive farmer, targeted, embraced, society, new ideas, positive manner
Worldwide gross: $141,999
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $209,400
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,924
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 22,835
US/Canada gross: $65,429
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $96,485
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,670
US/Canada opening weekend: $12,376
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $18,250
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,542
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
John Peterson – Writer
Teri Lang – Producer
Director(s)
Taggart Siegel
Writer(s)
John Peterson
Producer(s)
Teri Lang
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (42) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (5)
… outstanding documentary …
July 26, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Crust
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s fascinating that this portrait of the rise, fall and rise of Midwestern organic farmer John Peterson can be read in so many different ways, only some of which appear intentionally in Taggart Siegel’s sympathetic documentary.
July 26, 2007
Ella Taylor
L.A. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Of interest even to those not particularly interested in the subject of farming.
July 25, 2007
Frank Scheck
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
A beguiling combination of agrarian ode and The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, deepened by Peterson’s square sincerity as he struggles to find himself in relation to his family’s land.
July 6, 2007
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The Real Dirt on Farmer John turns into a portrait of how American family farming could blossom for a new century.
July 5, 2007 | Rating: B+
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Warmhearted.
June 23, 2007 | Rating: 3/6
Joshua Land
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It also, not incidentally, an inspiring vision of the way forward for food production, a portrait of what Peterson calls “a dead farm coming back to life”. After reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma, it may be just the antidote you need.
April 25, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Calder
New Zealand Herald
Inspiring, instructive, humorous, dramatic and moving, The Real Dirt on Farmer John is something special
October 21, 2007
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
The Real Dirt on Farmer John offers no discovery or mystery into the Peterson family or their farm, only matter-of-fact self-importance.
September 17, 2007 | Rating: 2/5
Christopher Campbell
Cinematical
Yes, John Peterson is a flake, but he’s a likable oddball, a rebel you can get behind.
July 27, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Daily News
Despite an occasional tendency to ramble on and hold forth, it stands as a worthwhile tale of down-home alternative Americana.
July 20, 2007
Andrew Wright
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
A triumph of baby boomer ideals, that work and art can and ought to coexist.
July 19, 2007 | Rating: B+
Gianni Truzzi
Seattle Post-Intelligencer…
Plot
“The Real Dirt on Farmer John” is a documentary about the life of John Peterson, an Illinois farmer who saves his livelihood through organic agriculture and also delves into writing and performance art.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Real Dirt on Farmer John features John Peterson, an Illinois farmer who also dabbles in writing and performance art.
Taggart-Siegel.jpg
