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In the heartland of Argentina, a hardworking cattle rancher, Omar, finds himself entangled in an unyielding battle against the wrath of nature. Due to a prolonged drought, the land now bears the heavy burden of dying livestock. As Omar struggles to keep his cows alive, we witness the heart-wrenching decisions he must make to save what little remains.In a parallel narrative, we are introduced to Omar's 93-year-old mother, who has begun planning for her own imminent departure. She prays for rain to help the cows survive, and yet she deeply understands the harshness and fragility of life that does not make any promises.
The youngest branches of this family end at Libertad, the innocent 4-year-old granddaughter, who pines for her missing father. Omar takes on the dual role of protector and provider for this fragile child, shielding her from the dangers of the wilderness outside.
With short film Poppy Crash:
Fields of radiant red poppy flowers fill the mountains of Guerrero, Mexico. The sale of the opium paste extracted from these poppies drives the mountain economy, allowing them to pay for their children’s education, construct homes and put food on the table. This was until fentanyl crashed the market and drove opium paste prices down.
Poppy Crash examines these mostly indigenous farmers' dependence on the volatile black market that provokes an uncertain future where increased poverty and violence is evident. When illicit crop cultivation is reduced, campesinos migrate to work as underpaid farmworkers, join the ranks of organized crime, or just try to keep eking out a living while harvesting corn and poppy.
This intimate portrait of rural life bound to an illegal economy, diverts the lens from the havoc and death wreaked by fentanyl overdoses and encourages viewers to reflect on the impact of global drug policies on those who slice poppy flowers just to get by.
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