Watch Bolivia: Cocaine Central

Bolivia: Cocaine Central is a documentary film that provides an insightful and harrowing look into the cocaine trade in the South American nation of Bolivia. Directed by Adrian Cowell, the film was released in 1980 and delves into the ways in which remote and impoverished communities in Bolivia have become enmeshed in the drug trade, and the devastating impact that this has had on both the individuals involved and the wider society.

The documentary opens with a striking sequence that showcases the breathtaking natural beauty of Bolivia's mountainous terrain, giving audiences a glimpse of the harsh and unforgiving environment that so many Bolivians call home. From there, the film takes a more sobering turn as it introduces viewers to the people who live and work in these isolated regions, many of whom have grown coca leaves for generations.

Coca, of course, is the raw material from which cocaine is produced, and the film makes it clear that the vast majority of the coca grown in the region is destined for the drug trade. Bolivia has long been one of the largest producers of cocaine in the world, and residents of these remote communities are often lured into the trade by the promise of easy money.

The film does an excellent job of humanizing these individuals and showing the circumstances that led them to become involved in such a dangerous and illegal enterprise. The sense of desperation that many of them feel, as they struggle to provide for their families or pay off debts, is palpable, and it's clear that for many people living in these communities, the drug trade represents their only means of survival.

Throughout the film, there are numerous interviews with coca farmers, drug runners, and others involved in the cocaine trade, as well as with government officials and law enforcement personnel. The perspectives of these different stakeholders are presented in a balanced way, giving audiences a sense of the complex and multifaceted nature of the issue at hand.

One of the most striking aspects of the film is the way in which it shows the pervasive influence of the drug trade throughout Bolivian society. From local police officers who turn a blind eye to drug trafficking in exchange for bribes, to government officials who cynically exploit the drug trade for their own gain, the film makes it clear that corruption is deeply ingrained in Bolivian society and that it's a major factor in perpetuating the drug trade.

Another powerful element of the film is the way in which it showcases the real-life consequences of the drug trade for individuals and communities across Bolivia. The film presents numerous heartbreaking examples of families torn apart by drug addiction, as well as the devastating impact that the drug trade has had on local economies and social structures. Throughout the documentary, it's clear that the costs of the drug trade are deep and far-ranging, affecting virtually every aspect of Bolivian society.

One of the most striking images in the film comes near the end, when a group of Bolivian soldiers set fire to a vast field of coca plants. The scene is simultaneously cathartic and depressing, as it's clear that the destruction of so much coca represents both a blow to drug traffickers and a devastating loss for the coca farmers who rely on the crop for their livelihoods.

Overall, Bolivia: Cocaine Central is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that offers a rare and intimate look into the complex realities of the cocaine trade in Bolivia. It's a film that doesn't shy away from the stark realities of the issue, and it leaves audiences with a profound sense of the ways in which the drug trade has irreversibly impacted the lives of so many Bolivians.

Bolivia: Cocaine Central is a 2007 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 11 minutes.