Director: Carmen Oquendo-Villar
Release Year: 2023
Synopsis:
"Todas las Flores" (2023), directed by the talented Puerto Rican filmmaker Carmen Oquendo-Villar, presents an intimate and poignant documentary that shines a light on the lives of trans women living and working in the heart of Santafé, Bogotá. This area, known for its red-light district, is home to a community of trans sex workers who face systemic violence and discrimination. The documentary explores their struggles, dreams, and profound sense of solidarity, offering viewers an empathetic window into a world often misunderstood and marginalized.
Since 2001, the 20-block area of Santafé, designated as the "tolerance zone" for legal sex work, has become a controversial yet central space for the trans community in Bogotá. Despite its status, Santafé is also one of the deadliest places for transgender individuals, as the region accounts for a staggering three-quarters of the world’s murders of trans people. Amidst this violence, however, the documentary highlights a small yet significant refuge for many of these workers: "Tabaco y Ron", a family-run brothel that has become an important sanctuary for the trans women who live and work there.
At Tabaco y Ron, the stories of these women unfold. From their personal accounts, the viewer comes to understand not only the pain and isolation they experience but also the powerful sense of camaraderie and community that sustains them. The brothel, though often stigmatized, offers these workers a safe space in a hostile world—one that is rarely understood in such compassionate terms. Oquendo-Villar’s film captures this nuance with grace, portraying the intimacy of their daily lives with both tenderness and unflinching honesty.
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In "Todas las Flores," the experiences of the trans sex workers are presented as a mosaic, weaving together the varied lives of those who call Tabaco y Ron home. The documentary captures the struggles of these women, who often face not only the risk of physical violence but also emotional isolation, rejection, and the weight of societal prejudice. Yet, Oquendo-Villar's lens also captures their hopes, dreams, and the fierce desire to live life on their own terms.
The film doesn’t only focus on the hardships of the community but also highlights the support networks that have emerged within it. The solidarity and sisterhood among the women at Tabaco y Ron are central themes in the documentary, as they find strength and comfort in each other’s company. These relationships, forged in the face of adversity, stand as a testament to the power of community in navigating the harshest of realities.
Moreover, the film includes the important work of "Diana Navarro", a prominent trans activist, who has dedicated herself to supporting the trans community in Bogotá. Navarro’s efforts, along with former Mayor Antanas Mockus’s progressive policies, are shown to play a critical role in fostering spaces of safety and advocacy for marginalized groups like the trans sex workers of Santafé.
For many years, the history of Santafé has been clouded by sensationalist portrayals in the media, which have often depicted the area as a lawless and dangerous ghetto—a place of violence, drug trafficking, and criminality. These reports rarely take into account the lived experiences of its inhabitants, particularly those in the trans community. In this context, "Todas las Flores" offers an important counter-narrative, providing an authentic glimpse into the resilience of those who live in one of Bogotá’s most stigmatized neighborhoods.
While most brothels are seen as places of exploitation and degradation, Tabaco y Ron stands out as a rare exception. The brothel’s role as a refuge in the midst of a troubled region adds a layer of complexity to the documentary. It is a space where dignity, acceptance, and survival coexist, even in the face of overwhelming societal rejection.
"Todas las Flores" has received widespread acclaim on the international film circuit. In addition to its premiere at the Sheffield DocFest in the UK in June 2023, the documentary has garnered numerous awards and selections at prestigious festivals around the world. At the Construir Cine festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina, it was awarded the Best International Feature Film in recognition of Oquendo-Villar’s sensitive and empathetic approach to storytelling.
The film’s global impact is evident in its selection for 17 international festivals, including screenings in cities such as Santiago de Chile, Vancouver, and Bogotá, where it continues to spark important conversations about identity, human rights, and the struggles of the trans community. At the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival in Canada and the International Film Festival for Human Rights in Colombia, the documentary has received praise for its unflinching portrayal of life in Santafé and for giving voice to those who have been overlooked by mainstream media.
Upcoming screenings in Puerto Rico, as part of the Puerto Rico Queer FilmFest, and in Costa Rica, at the Costa Rica International Film Festival, will further extend the film's reach and deepen its cultural resonance. The documentary will also be showcased in Bogotá during Pride Month in 2024, at the LASA Film Festival and the Cinemateca de Bogotá, with special screenings in the city’s more remote areas.
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The success of "Todas las Flores" is not only a testament to Oquendo-Villar’s directorial talent but also to the collective effort of the film’s producers and supporters. Produced by Alejandro Ángel Torres, Annabelle Mullen Pacheco, and Oquendo-Villar herself, the documentary benefits from a collaborative spirit that spans borders. In addition to its partnership with Colombian production company Armadillo: New Media & Films and Puerto Rican production company Belle Films, the project has received support from institutions such as the Sundance Institute and the Jorge Tadeo Lozano University in Bogotá.
The film’s recognition on the international stage is a testament to its universal appeal and its ability to foster meaningful conversations about the trans experience, human rights, and the power of solidarity. "Todas las Flores" is much more than just a documentary about the lives of trans sex workers in Bogotá. It is a tribute to the resilience of the trans community, a call for empathy, and a powerful reflection on the importance of safe spaces and community solidarity in the face of violence and oppression. Through its tender portrayal of Tabaco y Ron and the trans women who call it home, Carmen Oquendo-Villar has created a film that is both a poignant social commentary and a celebration of the strength found in the most unlikely of places. The documentary stands as a beacon of hope, shedding light on a world that, though often darkened by prejudice and neglect, continues to flower in its own quiet, powerful way.
Image credits: YouTube
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