How often do you drink a cup of coffee? Do you know where the beans come from or how coffee is made? A Small Section of the World takes a look at the production of coffee and more specifically to a small community of women in Costa Rica who, without any knowledge about coffee and opposition from men decided to start producing their own coffee.
Because most men had left their village because of an economic crisis it was the task of the women to take care of the children. They wanted to do something else and were initially thinking about textile, but decided on coffee. The start was tough, as they didn’t make any money the first two years and the quality of the coffee was bad. Because of the exporters weren’t interested. The women were willing to take advice and learn though and this meant a drastic improvement in quality and lead to eventual success.
Besides this story the documentary also shows how the beans are processed. An exporter tells about “cupping”, the way in which the quality of coffee is checked on flavor, acidity and smell. That happens my violently sipping and is a true expertise, which reminded me of the wine tasters in the documentary Somm. Cupping experts can taste where a coffee comes from and which specific flavors belong to which regions or countries.
A Small Section of the World mainly is a feel good documentary which shows that the willingness to start a company has to be stimulated and that it often doesn’t take much to do so. It is the reason why in the last couple of years micro budgets have become popular with various organisations.
These women, who had to stay home, succeeeded in beginning a succesful organisation which didn’t only help them, but their community as well. By establishing an internation organisation specifically for women in the coffee industry specific goals can be set in order to reach improvement for them.
The documentary can be foun on iTunes and part of the price goes to the Ernesto Illy Foundation to give women a chance to get a degree in ‘Master in Coffee and Economic Sciences’. Which is another reason to watch this film.
Sounds very interesting!
Yeah, it really was and quite well shot (although there was one drone shot which didn’t add anything and because it was only done once really stood out (in the wrong way))
Well, I don’t drink coffee myself but this review sounds indeed interesting.
A good documentary should be able to interest you even if you don’t have any connection with its subject.