For decades, cocaine has been a source of income for peasant families, couriers, mercenaries and drug lords. In the Peruvian Andes lies the „Cocaine Valley“ – the largest production site for the drug in the world with over 200 laboratories producing tons of cocaine every month. But with the onset of Covid-19, this lucrative industry is facing an unprecedented challenge and may soon be extinct.
The documentary Cocaine Valley: Surviving The Crisis offers viewers an intimate look at how this global pandemic has affected those living off of cocaine. Interweaving personal stories from within the walls of the coca factories with unique footage from inside Peru’s most notorious laboratories, this gripping film provides a rare insight into one of South America’s most secretive industries.
The impact of Covid-19 on Cocaine Valley has been devastating – with reduced orders and even lower prices for the product, people are struggling to make ends meet. As access to medical care declines and workers are left without their regular income, filmmakers examine how people in these marginalized communities cope with a crisis they did not cause.
Rather than just focusing on drugs and violence associated with them, Cocaine Valley: Surviving The Crisis reveals a different side of life in Peru that often goes unseen by outsiders – highlighting resilience and strength amidst adversity. This timely documentary serves as a reminder that situations like this require understanding and support more than ever before, providing viewers with an unforgettable insight into what is happening beneath our noses in one of South America’s most complex regions
