"The company doesn't provide them with an alternative to their jobs because the company wants to use open-pit mining, displacing the population and exploiting this area in a short period of time." "The church declares itself in defense of the poor, and the small scale miners of Marmato are at real risk of losing their jobs in this situation," Restrepo said in a video statement made four days before his murder.
In 2011, Father José Reinel Restrepo, the local parish priest, was murdered after returning from the capital Bogota after registering the Church's objection to the project. Since 2007 the community has fought the project both in the courts and on the land. Judge Luis Ernesto Vargas Silva ruled that because 80 percent of the local population depends on subsistence mining activities, and because the project would require the displacement of the entire community, the initial 2007 granting of the concession to the Canadian mining company had to be reviewed. The court also recognized the land rights of the Indigenous Cartama and Afro-Colombian Asojomar communities, as well as their traditional small-scale mining practices, which had been protected under Colombian law since 1946. The court ruled that Colombia's Interior Ministry must first complete community consultations before the Canadian company can proceed with the project, which would require the demolition and relocation of the community. On Tuesday Colombia's Constitutional Court ruled in favor of the residents of Marmato, a small Indigenous and Afro-Colombian community in the center of the country, in their 10-year fight against a massive open pit mine project by Canadian gold giant Gran Colombia Gold Corporation. Zandvliet has made a unique and emotionally gripping anti-war statement that is destined to become a classic, and will surely stay in one’s mind for quite some time.The Indigenous and Afro-Colombian community of Marmato won a major court victory in their 10-year fight against a massive Canadian gold mine. It comes as no surprise that Land of Mine has won quite a few international best film, best director and acting awards.
Martin’s score highlights these life-threatening situations the scenes revolving around twins Ernst and Werner Lessner (Emil and Oskar Belton) are particularly devastating.Īlthough this is a Danish feature, most of the dialogue is in German, which is a relief as too often pictures portray foreign people not speaking their native tongue. The natural movements of the camera when mixed with the flawless and stirring instrumentals composed by Sune Martin provide an overwhelming cinematic experience. Her gorgeous shots exquisitely track the emotional journey of Rasmussen and the boys.
The exact and piercing sound of slowly unscrewing explosive devices and subtle noise of digging up sand makes Land of Mine such an intense watch, putting knots in one’s stomach.Ĭamilla Hjelm’s superb understanding of lighting is utilised in her role as Director of Photography. The combined efforts of the 16-member sound department really heightens the tension to a level that is unparalleled. One false move and suddenly they’re up in smoke. The opening credits vanish quickly into a smoky fog while someone’s heavy panting is heard, which foreshadows the fate of many of these youngsters. The levels of depravity reached during war by the “winners”, aka “good guys”, often continues the unnecessary cycle of violence. It’s impossible to understand how the Danish state condoned such brutal war crimes on children. Although Denmark is famous for children’s fairy tales, this story of teenage POWs is not internationally well known. This film is a testament to the powerful emotions of revenge and compassion that drive individuals. Rasmussen promises the young men that they’ll be sent home once they recover 45,000 mines, which is reminiscent of the “Arbeit Macht Frei” slogan (work sets you free) that was at the entrance of Nazi concentration camps. Sergeant Carl Rasmussen (brilliantly portrayed by Roland Møller), whose first scene depicts him as a vicious Dane hell bent on punishing German soldiers, later softens as he supervises 14 boys tasked with digging out the mines by hand. Under Sandet ( Land of Mine) delves into the recovery efforts of 45,000 landmines – of the 2.2 million that were buried on Denmark’s West Coast – by young German POWs, some of whom look as young as 13. Danish writer-director Martin Zandvliet’s penetrating study into Denmark’s dark post-WWII history is destined to be a classic piece of war cinema.