SOUL OF JASMINE(茉香)

Directed by Marina Garcia Andreu (Filmmaker); 天天 李 (Producer)

Synopsis:

Amidst the newly-built office towers in Fuzhou, China lies a parcel of wetland where delicate jasmine flowers grow in abundance. Here, farmers brave the hot weather to collect jasmine from verdant and fragrant fields. They talk about the ephemeral bloom of the flowers, because the perfect bloom occurs but once a year. This film offers a visual journey of the jasmine flower from field, to cultivation, and ultimately, to the porcelain cup of a tea master.

Director Statement:

The documentary revolves around the cultivation of jasmine in Fuzhou, China. It offers a fascinating perspective on the intersection between the delicacy of a product and the harsh realities of labor conditions. In this sense, we can explore how the beauty and fragility of jasmine contrast with the arduous and often underestimated work involved in its cultivation. This contrast invites us to reflect on the social and labor inequities that may exist in the agricultural industry, where the beauty of the end products often obscures the difficulties faced by those who cultivate them.

The documentary also highlights the change in the physical and auditory environment of the city of Fuzhou. As buildings encroach closer and closer to the fields, one can perceive how urbanization is transforming the landscape and the lives of those who depend on the land for their livelihoods. The growing bustle of the city juxtaposed with the tranquility of the jasmine fields underscores how urban development is altering both the environment and local communities.