Im bolivianischen Hochland liegt der Cerro Rico, der reiche Berg, aus dem seit über 400 Jahren Silber gefördert wird. Das Filmteam steigt mit in die engen Schächte und zeigt uns den harten und lebensgefährlichen Arbeitsalltag der Minenarbeiterfamilie Cruz. (Filmnacht Programmfolder)

Im bolivianischen Hochland liegt der Cerro Rico, der reiche Berg, aus dessen engen Schächten seit über 400 Jahren Silber gefördert wird. Der Film bietet einen imposanter Einblick in den harten und lebensgefährlichen Arbeitsalltag der Minenarbeiter-Familie Cruz. Staub, dumpfes Hämmern und der Schein der Kopfleuchten generieren eine einzigartige, bizarre Szenerie, an einem der gefährlichsten Arbeitsplätze der Welt.

In the vertiginous Bolivian highland, a mountain of long tradition and great significance rises. Its name and both its fate is Cerro Rico (the rich mountain). In 1545, a silver vein was discovered that made the mountain the source of European wealth. Under its shadow, the city of Potosí was established, which, due to the Spaniards’ silver rush, rapidly became the biggest and richest city in the world. Today, the shine of the heyday is gone. However, since the discovery of the lode of silver, not too much has changed as to the working conditions in the mountain. Even now, around 15.000 miners are digging themselves through the mountain in order to scratch the last silver reserves off the rock face. The hard work demands sacrifices on a daily basis. IN 2014, Armin Thalhammer started out to the mines of the Cerro Rico with a team of five young film-makers as possibly one of the last who will be able to document the process of silver mining. “Cerro Rico - The Silver Mountain” shows the hard working day of the miner family Cruz with impressing pictures and powerful sound atmospheres. Durin the film, no information is provided by an Off- Speaker or any other accompanying Off-Commentaries. Via this experimental approach, common thought patterns are broken in order to cause a profound effect. (Produktionsinformation)

Regie, Schnitt Armin Thalhammer

Produktion Katharina Rettenbacher

1. Kamera Julian Hartmuth

2. Camera Armin Thalhammer

Sound Design Ester Kao, Andreas Posch, Christoph Mittermaier

Farbkorrektur Frederic Kokott