Century Of Gentle Seasons: A History Of Novato DVD Review

In anticipation of the release of Part 2 for the Novato 59th Birthday Bash in 2010, Zan Media has released Part 1, A Century Of Gentle Seasons: A History Of Novato on DVD. As documentaries go, this one lacks a bit in finesse, starting with odd music and a rush through a number of citizens whose names are displayed below them, while later on in the film the names are dropped (and since the beginning was overly-fast, these characters are not fixed in our minds, so the names should have been kept throughout).

It’s hard to understand why someone who didn’t live in Novato (near Point Reyes in CA), its surrounding area, or at least California would want to view this documentary. Other than a few Prohibition anecdotes and some stories about attempted horse-stealing by Kit Carson at the Pancheco Ranch (before it became a winery), the city’s information would not necessarily be interesting to the general populace. This documentary would lend itself to an appeal in a grants package or a plea for city or county funds.

The film is, however, well-shot, and its citizens are sincere, with many volunteers looking to keep the quality of life in Novato high despite being overlooked in county funding; until 2004 all the members of the Fire Station were volunteers and also enlisted to help with forest and land fires, and an annual Novato festival with music, food, entertainment and a parade ropes in businessman Dennis Haggerty and an abundance of volunteers every year. For many years volunteers taught Boy Scouts (a good number of whom became Eagle Scouts), and Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold soon hopes to institute a new form of personal rapid transit where people travel in compartments called pods along a rail in order to get to their destinations quickly.

A Century Of Gentle Seasons is, however, a good advertisement for living in Novato, whose climate seems ideal (and where volunteers taught horse-back riding to children for decades). Novato would be a great haven for those discouraged with the rat race of a big city but unwilling to live in isolation in the country.

One can see that a great deal of effort went into the making of this documentary, which seems inclusive of any detail the curious might want to know. The interest of children would wane very quickly watching it, as it’s more for adults, based on the large amount of given information. General history buffs might like some of the tales of the past offered throughout the film, however.

MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 60 Minutes

Grade: B

Starring: Citizens of Novato, including Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold; Herb Rowland of Pacheco Winery and great, great-grandson of Ignacio Pacheco, an early CA pioneer; and Dennis Haggerty, Novato businessman and volunteer

DVD Review by Christina of Movie Room Reviews