Watch Coffee Defenders: a Path from Coca to Coffee

Coffee Defenders: A Path from Coca to Coffee is a compelling and inspiring documentary film that follows the efforts of small-scale coffee growers in Colombia as they navigate the challenges of sustaining their livelihoods and protecting their land from the harmful impacts of coca cultivation. The film features a diverse cast of characters, including coffee farmers, community leaders, and environmental advocates, who share their stories of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. One of the main protagonists of the film is Alexandra Roca, a young coffee farmer who has dedicated her life to promoting sustainable farming practices and empowering her fellow growers to take control of their futures.

Through intimate interviews and stunning visuals of the lush Colombian landscape, Coffee Defenders explores the complex economic, social, and political forces that have driven many farmers to grow coca, the plant used to produce cocaine. The film reveals how the continued demand for cocaine in the global drug trade has fueled violence, corruption, and environmental destruction in communities across Colombia, particularly in remote rural areas where coffee farming is the primary source of income.

Coffee Defenders also highlights the creative solutions that coffee growers are implementing to resist the lure of coca and forge a more sustainable future for themselves and their families. From forming cooperatives that provide fair prices and better access to markets, to taking on roles as environmental stewards and leaders within their communities, the farmers depicted in the film offer a powerful vision of hope and resilience in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Throughout the film, viewers are treated to stunning visuals of the Colombian coffee country, with its sweeping hillsides of lush, green coffee bushes and quaint, colorful towns nestled among the mountains. The filmmakers use a blend of drone footage, sweeping panoramic shots, and intimate close-ups to capture the beauty and intricacy of the landscape, as well as the daily lives and struggles of the farmers who call it home.

Ultimately, Coffee Defenders: A Path from Coca to Coffee is a powerful and inspirational film that sheds light on the critical issues of poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation that plague rural communities around the world. By telling the stories of the small-scale coffee growers of Colombia, this documentary offers a glimpse into the lives and struggles of millions of people who are fighting to protect their land, their livelihoods, and their dignity in the face of daunting obstacles. Whether you are a coffee lover, a social justice advocate, or simply a fan of powerful storytelling, this film is not to be missed.

Coffee Defenders: a Path from Coca to Coffee is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 30 minutes.