On December 18, 2005, an indigenous person was elected president of Bolivia for the first time in history. Evo Morales Ayma was supported by 36 native groups, social movements, academic and intellectual circles and a massive popular backing which allowed him to obtain 53.7% of the votes. The coca growers from the Tropic of Cochabamba, better known as Chapare, played a leading role in this process.
In of the defense of the coca leaf, a sacred plant and with great importance in cultural and economic terms, the coca growers of the Cochabamba Tropic have consolidated into a solid labor union. It was in this process that Evo Morales was formed as a leader. Ever since the creation of their own political party, the “Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the People” (IPSP) in 1995, the coca growers have actively participated in national politics, converging the values of traditional indigenous culture, placing the demands and necessities of the native people before the State.
The documentary was filmed during the last presidential elections in Bolivia. It’s a picture of the coca growers labor union organization, that gives a panoramic of the symbolic and cultural value of coca leaf, contemporary social movements, traditional Indian organization and political participation in Bolivia.
- Festival de Biarritz (France) 2006
- 30th Sao Paulo Film Festival - 2006
- II Festival de Cine de Oruro - 2006
- One World Festival Berlin – 2006
- Documental - Lyon 2006
- Festival Internacional de documentales del Sur - Docusur market – Tenerife 2006
- Carrefour des Cinémas - Paris 2006
- 2do. Sydney Latin American film festival – 2007
- 24èmes Rencontres avec le cinema d’Amérique Latine – Bordeaux 2007
- Festival Internacional de Cine de Cartagena – 2007
- Thessaloniki documentary festival - doc market 2007
- Rome independent film festival - 2007
- Festival de cine pobre - Cuba 2007
- Festival Cine las Americas - Austin, Texas 2007
- Itinerant festival Cine Latino - Germany 2007
- Muestra Internacional de cine y video en La Paz - 2007
- 3er Festival Internacional de Documental - Caracas 2007
- Land InSights - Montréal 2007
Awards
- Best documentary award - Festival de Biarritz (France) 2006
- Special jury mention - Festival Internacional de Documental - Caracas 2007
Price:
Institutional: $200.00
Rental and Festival Screening: Please contact us.