Colombian Film: LOVE, WOMEN AND FLOWERS (RESTORED) | Proimágenes Colombia

Synopsis

At any time of the year in the United States, carnations of every color are plentiful and inexpensive. The widespread availability of these beautiful flowers, however, comes at a global price. Thousands of miles away from the bright store displays hazardous labor conditions endanger the 90,000 women who work in Colombia’s flower industry. According to a 2007 report, approximately 60 percent of all flowers sold in the United States come from Colombia, where the use of dangerous pesticides and fungicides has drastic health and environmental consequences. With urgency and intimacy, this film offers the testimonies of the women workers and documents their efforts to organize. As women workers continue to struggle in this industry (in 2007, nearly 200 workers were fired from the largest flower plantation in Colombia for their attempts to unionize and improve their conditions) this powerful and unique documentary remains an important resource for those interested in globalization, environmentalism, labor issues, social struggles, and Latin American studies.