Field of Amapolas / Jardín de Amapolas

country, year

Colombia, 2012

genre

drama

running time

87′

directed by

Juan Carlos Melo Guevara

language

Spanish

subtitles

English

synopsis

At 3000 meter altitude in the high planes of Colombia, cultivating poppies (amapolas) is a dangerous but rather lucrative business.

When farmer Emilio and his nine-year old son Simon are exiled by the Paramilitaries, they find refuge at Cousin Wilson’s. There, Emilio is forced to work in an illicit Amapola crop belonging to Ramiro, a fearsome and famous drug dealer in the region. Meanwhile, Simon befriends Luisa, a beautiful and extroverted girl of his age. Together they share great adventures accompanied by Rufino, a little puppy dog Simon steals every day returning it each night. With war ever present around them, the kids’ friendship is blooming as they play in the beautiful countryside and among dangerous mine fields.

about the author

Born and raised in Ipiales, Colombia Juan Carlos Melo Guevara studied film in Bogota’s university Manualea Beltran and Cinema as well as Photography at Unitec.

Filmography: Jardín de Amapolas (2012), The minimum measure (scenarij), Latitude Zero (2008), Amalia (2005), Trace in the darkness (2003), Loneliness Ritual (1997).

festivals, awards

Warsaw International Film Festival 2012