Since
Grapes of Wrath there has probably not been a more poignant picture of
the migrant farm worker than this documentary. In the Land of Plenty
has the added dimension that the workers are Mexican immigrants. Most do not
speak English, and are undocumented with no means of protecting themselves from
exploitation. These workers had little choice but to leave the villages in Mexico
that could not offer them a livelihood.
In the strawberry fields of Watsonville, California, we meet several gentle but weathered men and women and hear their stories. The facts are disturbing. Their wages are low and their living conditions are poor. They work long hours and often are exposed to toxic chemicals. Most workers have families, but are lacking health insurance and child care. The United Farmworkers Union has tried to organize. Richard Hobbs, Director of Immigrant Programs, points out that these immigrants as a group returned $100 billion more to the economy than they take. Their wages are taxed although they have no benefits. Yet they are looked upon with hostility by the government as well as by private citizens.
With lively music and an appreciation of border culture, In theLand of Plenty provides a human portrait of workers at the mercy of a greedy system.
62 min. Video or DVD. Sale $295. Video rental $75. Subtitled.
Havana International Film Festival, 1999
San Antonio CINEFEST, 2001
The Other American Film Festival, San Antonio, 1999
Filmakers Library
124 East 40th Street, NY, NY 10016
Phone 212-808-4980, fax 212-808-4983
e-mail: info@filmakers.com