Sugarland
Coca-Cola is extremely important to the people of Chiapas, Mexico's poorest state - it is used ritually during prayers in church, it determines a person's status, and if a local politician wants to win the people's vote, he or she has to serve 180 cases of Coke at a rally. What's more, local healers (curanderos) believe in the healing power of Coca-Cola. There is an epidemic of diabetes and obesity in Chiapas, while at the same time the Coca-Cola plants are depleting the groundwater, leaving residents without access to drinking water. The indigenous community is aware of the problem, but has no means of stopping 'coca colonisation'.
Ola, a journalist with a Polish team, and Joel, an indigenous artist with a Mexican team, go to the source of the problem to find out how Chiapas has become the world's biggest consumer of Coca-Cola. Along the way, they discuss how their interviewees are treated and the answers they get - are the differences related to their background and skin colour? Will the investigation give Joel the tools to get Coca-Cola out of the stores in his community and allow Ola to understand why it has captured Mexican souls?
They begin parallel investigations. It's a way to see in which circles Ola and her Polish crew will learn more, and in which circles Joel's Mexican crew will get to the hidden facts. Indigenous communities are reluctant to trust white people, while well-placed Mexican officials are not eager to explain their actions to the indigenous population.
Ola, a journalist with a Polish team, and Joel, an indigenous artist with a Mexican team, go to the source of the problem to find out how Chiapas has become the world's biggest consumer of Coca-Cola. Along the way, they discuss how their interviewees are treated and the answers they get - are the differences related to their background and skin colour? Will the investigation give Joel the tools to get Coca-Cola out of the stores in his community and allow Ola to understand why it has captured Mexican souls?
They begin parallel investigations. It's a way to see in which circles Ola and her Polish crew will learn more, and in which circles Joel's Mexican crew will get to the hidden facts. Indigenous communities are reluctant to trust white people, while well-placed Mexican officials are not eager to explain their actions to the indigenous population.