“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 a film focused on crops—cannabis and grapes. Perhaps it would explore the challenges small farmers face today, like climate change, sustainability, or how cannabis sales impact wine profits. While some of these themes are addressed, 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 riveting 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 met Hélène, she understood immediately. She was like, ‘Yes, we're growing two different plants, but we're both farmers.’ She just approached the project with such openness and curiosity. And without that sort of knee-jerk judgment that we found with lots of other folks.”

“Kev calls himself an outlaw and a pirate…Americans are still steeped in our puritanical approach to regulation.”

For the full interview and details on where to watch the film, read my article on Grape Collective, Weed & Wine: Love, Legacy, and Land—A Conversation with Filmmaker Rebecca Richman Cohen.