“Pistachio Wars” starts off looking like a simple investigative story about a reporter chasing down a water deal between a farmer and a desert town, but turns into a sprawling exposé about greed, water, and power in California. Journalist Yasha Levine peels back layer after layer of what’s really behind those tasty California pistachios that most of us love, and the damning facts and final result is both fascinating and a little horrifying.
At the center of it all are Stewart and Lynda Resnick, billionaire owners of The Wonderful Company (and the villains of this story). They live in a Beverly Hills mansion but control a massive chunk of California’s farmland and a huge portion of the state’s water supply. Through marketing genius and political muscle, they’ve turned pistachios into a global brand while draining rivers, reshaping the desert, and reshuffling the balance of power in California’s agricultural industry.
The documentary is packed with well-researched history and context, going back decades to explain how California built its elaborate water system and how big agribusiness eventually took it over. There’s a lot to take in here, from the devastating environmental damage, political backroom deals, union-busting, personal health of local communities, oil industry waste being used in food irrigation, and even international intrigue that explains how the relationship between the United States and Iran factors into the pistachio trade. Levine connects it all in a way that’s surprisingly easy to follow. His is a story that feels both urgent and overdue.
Levine successfully shows just how intertwined farming, politics, and marketing have become. The documentary is part investigative journalism, part eco-thriller, and part history lesson on California’s complicated relationship with water. There is a lot covered here, and it’s both informative and highly entertaining.
Levine leans heavily on first-person narration and drone footage, but both work quite well and highlight his investigative reporting. His dialogue is passionate and trustworthy, and the sweeping aerial shots (while admittedly repetitive) are the perfect tool to convey the scale of the issue.
“Pistachio Wars” leaves you with a lot to think about, and it’s not just nuts and water. This is a film that explores how market forces and political influence quietly shape the environment around us. It’s a story most people have never heard, and it will leave you questioning where your food (and water) really come from. You’ll never look at a bag of pistachios in the same way again.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 