The Soil of the Namib: Dreams

Germany | 2023 | 26 min | Khoekhoegowab and English

In the middle of the Namibian wasteland, Esmeralda, Major and Peter work as illegal small-scale miners. Despite the hopelessness of their situation, they dream of a better life.

Far away, in the middle of the Namibian wasteland, on former German-colonial soil. Unsecured, dangerous tunnels lead deep into a monolithic mountain. Major, Esmeralda and Peter work in illegal mines, searching for gemstones. The vast, sprawling landscape belies the vicious circle that keeps these workers ensnared. This Sisyphean task brings little financial reward, and yet the workers risk their lives day after day in pursuit of it. The group is trapped in a microcosm, their dreams buried in the dust.

The documentary short film is part of the transmedia project “The Soil of the Namib”, which also includes three complementary 360° episodes: “LAND”, “WRAITHS” and “DARK”.

Credits

Production Company: TIME PRINTS
Partners & Funding: Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg,
BKM – Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien mit Unterstützung von Saarland Medien