About Mama Coca, the Sacred Leaf of Peru
When Atikamekw elder Charles Coocoo sees the devastating impact of addiction on Indigenous youth in Canada, he travels to the Peruvian Andes to understand its source. There, he discovers a thousands-year-old tradition where the coca leaf is a sacred symbol of healing, community, and spiritual connection, far removed from the dark reality of illegal trade. Discover the powerful clash between ancient tradition, international prohibition, and a modern crisis affecting communities worldwide. Director: Felix Atencio-Gonzales
Mama Coca, the Sacred Leaf of Peru is presented by Best Documentary. Its listed runtime is 48 minutes. The source link and publisher attribution are provided with the embedded film.
As a society documentary, Mama Coca, the Sacred Leaf of Peru uses sacred as its central frame. Social documentaries work best as invitations to examine systems through lived experience. Distinguish individual testimony from wider claims, and consider which institutions, incentives and inequalities shape the choices shown.
What to consider before watching
- What evidence, testimony or observation does the film use to explain sacred?
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Topics covered in this documentary
Documentary details and original source
- Title
- Mama Coca, the Sacred Leaf of Peru
- Category
- Society
- Runtime
- 48 minutes
- Language
- English
- Publisher
- Best Documentary
Free Documentary Vault provides independent discovery, organization and editorial context. The film remains hosted by its original publisher, who controls availability and playback.
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