Food Stamped was not a bad documentary, and covers some topics which should be discussed more frequently in American forums.
The documentary primarily discusses food stamps, and how they, in the long run, donate to overall American obesity by forcing those who use it to partake in a cheap diet, whilst cheap food is primarily unhealthy. This information is provided clearly with statistics, graphics, and the film is quite successful in making one see how big a problem the state of America is in terms of diet.
However, despite the useful information, I personally had a few problems with the film. The filmmaking couple tries to convey the fact that it is possible to eat healthily with the meager income of food stamps, and they certainly succeed at this. Occasionally, though, it seemed like they were overreacting about the scarcity they had to face, and as though they were taking a stab at poverty which they seemed to convey that they had little experience with. Personally, fifty dollars a week seems like plenty of money to live off of if one knows where to shop and how to cook. Also, a bit too much time was spent on their bickering over what to eat and how/when to eat it; this could have been better displayed in a graphic.
Regardless, I must give them a hand for this experiment and for using film to promote healthier eating, locally produced foods, and farmers’ markets.
Showtimes for Food Stamped:
Sunday, February 13, 2011, 4:45pm (Roxie Theatre)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011, 7:00pm (Roxie Theatre)
I agree with your assumption.