“Rebecca Richman Cohen is both an Emmy-winning filmmaker and a lecturer at Harvard Law School. She tells a compelling story with warmth and intimacy. ” — G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
With a title like Weed & Wine, you might expect the documentary to focus on the crops themselves—grapes and cannabis—and the challenges facing small farmers today, like climate change, navigating legal markets, or even how the sale of weed is cutting into the profits of wine producers. And some of these themes are addressed. However, Emmy-nominated filmmaker Rebecca Richman Cohen has created something much deeper. Her documentary is a heartwarming exploration of family legacies, love for the land, and the intricate relationships between parents and their children.
The film follows two families: Hélène and her son Aurélien, who have been growing biodynamic wine in France’s Rhône Valley for centuries, and Kevin and his son Cona, cannabis farmers in California’s Humboldt County with outlaw roots. Both families face unique challenges, but what binds them is a deep passion for their craft and their struggle to protect what they’ve built for future generations.
I sat down with Cohen to learn more about this touching film, which will leave you reflecting on the powerful bonds of family. Here are a few quotes by Cohen from our conversation.
“Of all the films I’ve made, I think this was the most loving. There was a lot of excitement and enthusiasm and openness and trust with both families.”
“As soon as we
This Article was originally published on The Wine Chef
