Cocalero (2007)

The determination of one unwavering socialist to stand up for his indigenous people in the face of an international crackdown on the Bolivian coca-growing regions forms the basis for this lively look at Aymara Indian Evo Morales' historic bid for the presidency of Bolivia. As the United States increasingly turned the focus of the War on Drugs towards the Bolivian coca-growing regions, the resulting efforts of the Bolivian government in eradicating coca crops had a devastating effect on the indigenous farmers -- who, as a result, would form a powerful union. It was personable and unpretentious union leader Morales who took it upon himself to stand up for the farmers whose livelihoods were now at stake, and his unassuming personality found him as comfortable drinking beer with his friends and swimming in his underwear as he was mingling with the cultural elite over talk of redistributing wealth, re-industrializing industries, and legalizing coca products. In this documentary, curious filmgoers are invited to gain greater insight than ever into both the political changes that are sweeping Latin America, and the mind of the populist platform leader whose stance on the state of his nation has resulted in unwavering praise from supporters, and venomous resistance from detractors.