"[A] personal journey inviting viewers to 'defend and protect and celebrate' our 'sacred bond' with Mother Earth." Dennis Harvey, Mill Valley FF

A filmmaker who late in life acquired an organic apple farm, Alexandra Lexton found herself searching for "stories of others who'd reconnected with nature in different ways, then brought their experiences in some meaningful way into the world."

Fools' Paradise (lost?) finds Lexton eliciting wisdom from 10 such interviewees, including a globetrotting photographer, a journalist, a Navajo scholar, an ecotherapist, famed "planetwalker" Dr. John Francis, and experts in mindfulness and climate change.

Immersed in their experiences, Fools' Paradise (lost?) delves into topics such as personal action, sustainable business and life practices, nature therapies and how we need and use nature to regenerate ourselves. What can different cultures and histories offer us as lessons for our future? What are some of our most prominent thinkers and creators doing to make change within themselves and beyond? How can we tap into those lessons and experiences both as individuals and communities?



Grade Level: 10-12, College, Adults
US Release Date: 2026     Copyright Date: 2024
DVD ISBN: 978-1-961192-61-4

Reviews "Fools' Paradise (lost?) is a quiet wake-up call that exposes our deepening estrangement from the natural world - and reminds us that the greatest danger may be not climate collapse itself, but our growing numbness to it. Through inspiring encounters, this fascinating film reveals how reconnecting our bodies, senses, and ethics to the living Earth is no longer optional, but an urgent need to challenge the largest mass migration in history, towards the screen-lit indoors." Alberto Arenas, Professor of Environmental and Sustainability Education, University of Arizona, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Environmental Education "Immerse yourself in this extended, and effective, meditation on connection. Alexandra Lexton chooses some capable guides to help you 'live in reality.' Powerful!" Christopher Preston, Professor of Philosophy, University of Montana, Author, Tenacious Beasts: Wildlife Recoveries that Change How We Think About Animals "This film brings together the obvious, the forgotten, and the obligations of us all to become better stewards of the environment - and not just for its sake, but for ours, too." Justin Harmon, Associate Professor of Community and Therapeutic Recreation, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Co-Editor, Leisure Sciences "[B]eautifully photographed...[E]xplore[s] how one person can indeed make a difference amidst escalating planetary crises, and how reversing the trend that replaces knowledge of nature with cellphone-focused insularity can help heal addiction, grief, depression, and other human ails...Fools' Paradise is a personal journey inviting viewers to 'defend and protect and celebrate' our 'sacred bond' with Mother Earth--before that opportunity is, indeed, a Fools' Paradise (lost?)" Dennis Harvey, Mill Valley Film Festival "I felt at peace watching Fool's Paradise (lost?) and meeting the diverse group of inspiring artists, Native leaders, eco-therapists, and peacewalkers, all leading with love, not fear. I can see teachers offering students one chapter/person at a time to discuss their insightful lessons in healing, kindness, and reconnection with themselves, other animals (human and nonhuman), and our natural world to make planetary wellbeing the priority it must be." Carrie Freeman, Professor of Communication, Georgia State University, Author, The Human Animal Earthling Identity "Fools' Paradise (lost?) shares stories from impressive people on how their natural environments have been key to healing, inspiration, love, adventure, and activism. This is a visceral invitation to consider one's own (dis)connection with nature, while providing many paths forward into how human societies can best find their place in this natural world." John Zelenski, Professor of Psychology, Director of Happiness Laboratory, Carleton University "Fools' Paradise (lost?) offers many perspectives and stories from individuals who have found how the powerful and transformative connections with nature support the health and wellbeing of humans in various ways. The film also offers the contrast to these connections by highlighting the disconnect between humans and nature and the destruction humans are causing to the planet at our own expense. The film is inspiring while also devastating as we watch the extremes of these relationships." Jennifer Thomsen, Associate Professor of Society and Conservation, Director, Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management, University of Montana