In the ’80s, the floriculture industry was booming in Colombia and was internationally acclaimed. However, behind the idyllic image of abundance, the reality was different. A film was made in 1988, won several prizes, and the digital restoration of the film took place in 2022 and 2023.
The documentary film Amor, Mujeres y Flowers (Love, Women, and Flowers), directed by Marta Rodriguez and Jorge Silva, denounces the use of pesticides in the carnation flower fields of the Colombian savannah as well as the working conditions of the mostly female workforce. Starting from an anthropological approach, the film collects, during five years, the testimonies of the workers and follows them in their daily life. A pioneering film about emancipation, dignity, and the fight for the environment.
By attacking this symbol of Colombian success, Marta Rodriguez succeeded at the time in bringing about change. The Franco-Colombian Gabriela Torres works in the production company founded by the famous documentary maker. In this article, she tells more about the origins of this film.
Click here to watch the trailer.
Source: www.festival-cannes.com
