From Opium to Chrysanthemums
The Golden Triangle on the borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma is well known for its cultivation of opium, but when Swiss filmmaker PeA Holmquist returns to the area 30 years after first visiting he finds that many of the fields are now planted with Chrysanthemums. Holmquist visits the Hmong villages he knew more than three decades ago to find out what made them change from the extremely profitable opium fields, to the selling of flowers. From Opium to Chrysanthemums explores the difficulties in attempting to preserve the traditional Hmong culture in Southeast Asia, while coping with the economic and political changes that have influenced many of the villagers to leave the area and immigrate to other countries
Directors
Pea Holmquist
Born 1947 in Kristianstad. Trained at Christer Stromholm's Photography School. Began as a fashion photographer, then chose to become a war photographer in S.E Asia. Trained at the Swedish Television as a director of photography. From 1975, freelance documentary film maker and producer, working mainly in the Middle East and in Europe. PeÅ Holmquist has directed and produced more than 50 documentary films among them many prize winning films shown at many TV-stations and festivals.