Pearl Power | History, Beauty, and Cultural Symbolism

Pearl Power - Step into the enchanting world of pearls with Pearl Power, a documentary that explores the timeless allure of these precious gems. From their mythical origins as the tears of Aphrodite to their modern-day role in luxury fashion, pearls have captivated cultures around the globe. This documentary unveils their deep symbolism in wealth, love, and power, while tracing their fascinating journey through history. Featuring interviews with jewelry experts and iconic celebrities, discover how pearls have not only shaped fashion but have also been intertwined with rituals, desires, and status symbols throughout civilizations.

Pearl Power (2005)

Director: Sylvia Stevens
Production company: Faction Films
Genre: Documentary
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Release Date: October 23, 2005 (France)

Synopsis:

Pearl Power dives into the sensuous world of pearls, uncovering their past and exploring their present – from their production, symbolism and pleasures, to the hard knocks of the marketplace. Pearls are a mirror to history reflecting and determining attitudes of wealth, culture and social advancement. They have played an instrumental role in bringing together East and West, and Ancient and New Worlds in a unified value system of wealth, status and power. Believed to be everything from the tears of Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of love, to solidified dewdrops, these jewels have inspired an obsession throughout history and across cultures.

Pearls have always been associated with sensuousness – they are a reminder of the essence of love, pleasure and the overtly erotic. Today pearls are a uniform that have come to symbolise tradition itself, whether worn with jeans or with a ball gown. Featuring interviews with leading celebrities and experts from the jewellery world, this stunning documentary explores the history of mankind's obsession with pearls over the centuries.

From Chinese remedies to personalised pearl sex toys created in NY; from the feverish Coco Chanel trend for mixing real, false and culture pearls to the competitive race of PR agencies to place their pearls on stars at the Oscars, it is a lavish look at the ever-changing role of the pearl.

Also Known As (AKA):
(original title)
Aphrodite's Drop: The Power of Pearls
Denmark: Afrodites tåre
France: Les larmes d'Aphrodite
Germany: Aphrodites Tränen