Jennifer Dean
Scott, C. (Director). (2026) Small is Beautiful: The Quest to Save the Valley of the Moon. Bullfrog Films. 25 minutes. The short documentary Small is Beautiful: The Quest to Save the Valley of the Moon advocates against housing and resort projects proposed for Sonoma Valley and serves as a clarion call against irresponsible urban development in areas prone to wildfires. The film gives voice to local residents, former firefighters, environmentalists and organizers, all of whom elucidate the struggle Sonoma has endured, both as a victim of horrendous wildfires and against reckless developers who are supported by imprudent politicians. More than simply an expository short documentary, the admonitory video successfully informs the viewer of the potential dangers that these plans could wreak on Sonoma communities and wildlife. Nevertheless, it lacks contextualization in regard to the legislation in question and a background of how and why the mandatory requirements transpired. Those additions would provide a stronger foundation for the rhetoric of the film and make it more impactful for a wider audience outside those specifically opposing the housing and resorts being proposed for this particular location. The housing mandates, with an inclination toward luxury housing, may not be the answer (even beyond Sonoma Valley) but there is a desperate need for housing in the state of California (and elsewhere). Ignoring the lack of affordable housing in urban centers and the NIMBYism which has plagued California for decades, and has in part led to the legislation that the film condemns, weakens the filmmaker’s case. The opening sequence contains beautiful footage of Sonoma Valley and the film successfully presents graphics of the proposed development and maps of the area, giving the audience a clear understanding of what is at stake with the potential urban sprawl. However, some of the production values are slightly heavy-handed, with a continuous and manipulative score and a considerable reliance on the Ken Burns effect for photographs with constant movement. There is repetitive use of text of the interviews and voice-over, strategically typed out over the center of the video, which undermines the emphasis the filmmaker wishes to create through its consistency, while also not simply giving the viewer the opportunity to process the information themselves. I would recommend the film with reservations for a course on urban planning or environmental studies. It succeeds in engaging in a conversation surrounding the problems of city planning gone awry in Sonoma Valley but does not take into account the larger conversation surrounding the complexity of development in California and elsewhere.