Polluting Paradise

Neither corruption nor perfume can hide a garbage dump on top of a mountain. When Fatih Akin became aware of plans for a garbage dump in the village of Çamburnu – his grandparent’s village –
he started making this documentary. He has been filming since the very first pile of rubbish was dumped, and until catastrophe is unavoidable. The contrast between the beautiful photos in the documentary and the stench hanging over the city is striking. As rainwater fills the dump and breaks the barrier, garbage water comes gushing down the mountain. It runs through the entire village, taking hope with it. lac

German-Turkish Fatih Akin has previously directed several critically acclaimed films. Among these, Head-On (2004) was awarded the Golden Bear in Berlin, and was also named «Best film» and won the Audience Award at the European Film Awards. The Edge of Heaven (2007) won Best Screenplay at Cannes in 2007. Soul Kitchen (2009) is Akin's latest feature film.