Olive oil is an essential ingredient of the Mediterranean diet. In the early 21st century a revolution broke out in Jaén: Picual, the most emblematic of its olives, but historically rather underrated, may well produce the best extra virgin olive oil in the world. This documentary introduces us to the challenges raised by this change seen through the eyes of the people from the Jaén olive groves, of the chefs who have seen in this change a revolution in terms of gastronomy and of the olive-producers and consumers. It also reveals the hidden beauty of one of Spain’s least-known provinces.
José Luis López-Linares is a producer and director of documentaries. He began his career as a director of photography, working with the most highly recognised filmmakers in Spain and abroad. Outstanding in his filmography as a director are the documentaries Asaltar los cielos (1997) and Extranjeros de sí mismos (2000), both co-directed with Javier Rioyo, Un instante en la vida ajena (2003), winner of the Goya for Best Documentary, Hécuba, un sueño de pasión (2006), co-directed with Arantxa Aguirre and presented in Zabaltegi Specials, and El pollo, el pez y el cangrejo real, in which he followed the chef Jesús Almagro in his preparation for the Bocuse d'Or.