Search - Troublesome Creek - A Midwestern on DVD

Accurate portrayal of small farms today

01/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just saw this documentary the Independent Film Channel and found myself quite drawn into it. Having grown up on a farm in Southern Indiana, and still active in farming while working full-time off the farm, I found many things very familiar to me. Russel and Mary Jane Jordan fondly reminded me of so many farming couples I recall from my youth. They are an ardent, persistent lot, coming out of the great depression and World War II with not much more than their dreams and work ethic. Viewing this film, I felt a persistent sadness, not only for the Jordan family, but also for so many small farmers like them who are having to deal with the changing tide in agriculture. The time when a farmer could raise a family on a few hundred acres or less is gone. The account of farming and farm life is accurate. The plight of small farmers today is also accurate."

This is a GREAT film!

J. P. Warrant | United States | 12/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I show this video during the "American Dream" unit that I teach to my junior English students. This video fits in perfectly because it highlights the classic struggle that today's farmers have, and it helps students compare today's dream with that of the past. I live in Iowa, and this movie could probably be played out in real life among many of my students' families. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys documentaries. I have never tired of seeing it!"

What A Triumph!!

Eric Swanger | Chicago, IL USA | 07/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this film on the Sundance Channel last year, and have been trying to find it ever since. Its a deeply personal documentary made by a daughter about her family's struggle to maintain dignity and happiness in a time of financial doom. Jeanne Jordan returns to rural Iowa where she was raised, in effort to shed some light on the true strength of her family. Her parents, in an effort to settle their debts to a large midwestern farming bank, are forced to sell off most of their personal belongings, so they may keep the farmland within the family. What is so great about the film is that it was made by someone who is not a mere outsider to the subjects, but a sypathetic and supportive participant in the ordeal itself. Jeanne Jordan provides a lot of historical background about her family, and also shows that although they are in the midst of bad times, they can still maintain a level of positivity and humor. It plays out like a movie really. And although there are a lot of really touching moments, it steers clear of becoming too sentimental. She narrates the film very well, filling in the details when needed, and pulling back when they are easily visible. And she says some really powerful things about growing up on a farm, which is a lifestyle that many of us cant even begin to understand. Jordan sums it up beautifully when, near the end, she states "Growing up on a farm is probably like growing up on the coasts, you can never go to far without feeling bereft in some way." Very moving film. One of the best documentaries Ive seen."

A Heartfelt Documentary Starring Real People

Eric Swanger | 12/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this video with a slightly different perspective than other viewers. The couple in the documentary lived in my community. My mom sold Avon to Mary Jane Jordan, the woman in the documentary; she was one of the sweetest ladies I've ever known. Two of her daughters have been my teachers, and one of her granddaughters was a close friend. I wrote this review so that you would not only know that the film is fabulous and truly heartfelt but that the people are REAL. They are real people with real emotions, and this documentary captures all their very real feelings and reactions in the toughest of times. I highly recommend it to anyone of any age."