Bitter Harvest (Brazil)
Francesco Zizola investigated the life and work of sugar cane cutters in the North-east of Brazil. The Dutch landed briefly in this region in the early 17th century, fighting over sugar profits with the Portuguese. Remnants of colonial power structures remain visible in the local society today, while strenuous manual labour by cane cutters is still an essential part of the sugar industry. Yet significant improvements have been taking place in the Brazilian industry. Due to the country’s economic boom, a shortage of cheap manual labour has ushered in a rapid increase in wages and close scrutiny of labour conditions by the state.
