Soulbright Movie Night | Pepe Mujica: Lessons From The Flowerbed

This Monday, we will take a journey to Uruguay in the early 2010s, and visit a small farm in the rural outskirts of Montevideo. Here, we meet a truly fascinating old man. He grew up on a small farm, became a Marxist guerrilla, then spent nearly 15 years in prison during Uruguay’s military dictatorship and escaped, later returned to politics as a democratic politician, and ultimately became president of Uruguay! And yet, even as president, he continued to live like a farmer, stayed in his modest home rather than the presidential residence, drove an old Volkswagen Beetle, and donated around 90% of his presidential salary to social causes!

The media famously nicknamed him “the world’s poorest president.” But he never saw a simple life as a poor one. Even at the height of political power, he remained content with very little, choosing simplicity and an ordinary life over wealth and luxury.

He is one and only Pepe Mujica!

But this isn’t really a film about the president. It’s a film about the man behind the title — his ideas about wealth, happiness, freedom, consumption, poverty, political struggle, and what makes a meaningful life.

🧔🏼‍♂️🌿🌻Pepe Mujica: Lessons from the Flowerbed (2014)🚜🏛️🇺🇾

❤️WHAT I LOVE about this film that it is so intimate! We meet Pepe not only through interviews in his house and on his farm, but also by simply seeing how he lives. It feels like being invited in as a guest, spending some time with this remarkable man and getting a glimpse into his everyday life!

We also hear from his wife and longtime political companion, Lucía Topolansky, who shares personal stories from their life together, from how they met during the dictatorship to the years they spent living and farming side by side. Through these different perspectives, we get to know Pepe from different angles.

Let’s meet this great man together, listen to what he has to say, and perhaps find some inspiration for our own lives!

✨ After the film, let’s engage in a friendly discussion to share thoughts, learn from each other, and make new friends!