Join us for a screening of Cotton 100%, a 2021 documentary directed by Michael Borodin, which looks at Uzbekistan’s cotton industry, one of the largest in the world, with a history of coerced labor practices. See trailer here. A director Q&A via zoom follows the screening. Doors at 6:30 pm; screening begins at 7 pm. Refreshments available. $10 suggested donation.
Cotton100% follows two women: human-rights activist Elena and farmer Mukhabbat as they navigate the harsh working practices and deceptive tactics of the cotton industry in Uzbekistan. Mukhabbat leases land from the state, but water shortages make it difficult for her meet stringent production quotas. She believes in hard work and obedience to the rules. On the other hand Elena is a protest-and-rage activist, working tirelessly to improve pay and living conditions for cotton workers. The passion of one meets the reason and firmness of the other in this compelling story of two strong female characters coping with injustice and poverty.
The director Michael Borodin states, “COTTON 100% is a very personal story for me. Just as it would be to anyone who was born or lives in Uzbekistan, where forced cotton picking is still a part of everyday life…. I remember spending weeks in the fields picking cotton along with my schoolmates instead of studying.” Borodin’s film is not just a crusade against violation of human rights, it is also an observational nostalgic journey shot by a loving eye.