Working Films reports from Tales From Planet Earth. Cooked tells the story of Chicago's 1995 heat wave, one of the largest natural disasters in recent history, that few people noticed or even remember today! It was however the scene of a hidden disaster in which more than 700 people died. Judith Helfand explores this tragedy, and finds that what we call "natural" disasters so often are actually "social" disasters.

But the movie isn't just about death, poverty, crisis, or racism. Helfand also finds courageous individuals, like Orrin Williams and his Growing Home organization, who is challenging the status quo and working to repair urban social networks that protect and benefit everyone.

Like Jennifer, the manager of the kitchen program at Porchlight, Orrin, an urban argiculturalist, works to build community and create jobs for people who no one else thinks of hiring. Moreover, they both work to make the food system work better for individuals and the environment. (less info)