Farmer and activist Anita Chitaya travels from Malawi to the U.S. to share her experiences of drought and degradation brought about by climate change. From farmers in California and lawmakers in Washington, Chitaya seeks to change minds about their role in the climate crisis. Along her way, she draws parallels between struggling Malawian farmers and victims of systemic racial and gender inequality in the U.S., and asks if there are better ways in which we can work with each other and with the Earth in this inspiring film full of hope.

What We Think

For many years, farmers from the most climate vulnerable parts of the world have been warning us of the risks of climate breakdown, marked by the uncertainty of when to plant and when to harvest. Over the same time, farmers in the global north have been turned against climate action by a combination of fear mongering by vested interests and policy making that increased pressure and precarity for many farmers. The Ants and the Grasshopper beautifully weaves these two lived realities together, taking a clear-eyed look at the concenquences of inequality and presenting a glimmer of hope, grounded in cooperation and solidarity.