The Burning Field' is a unique ethnographic portrait of an environmental wasteland.
Conceived and recorded by anthropologist and filmmakers Justin Weinrich and Anita Afonu, this immersive film presents an unforgettable slice of daily life in one of the largest e-waste dumps on earth, located just outside of Accra, Ghana.
Considered to be the most toxic environment on the planet, Agbogbloshie is explored through the eyes of four young people who live and work there. The film follows three young men and one young woman as they break down and burn appliances and then sell the aluminum and copper to local vendors.
The film has been structured into the span of one day, beginning as a fresh load of electronic waste is dumped, following it through the process of being broken down and burned, and ending as the ashes are picked through.
Scenes of the four subjects are intertwined, and slowly revealing their individual desires, dreams, habits, sorrows... Presented entirely through their perspectives and in their own words, these four young people are our guides in this harsh world of e-waste disposal, and the humanitarian and environmental nightmare that lies at the end of this corrupt global industry.
- Year2020
- Runtime71 minutes
- LanguageTwi, Dagbani (English subtitles)
- CountryGhana, USA
- PremiereYes
- DirectorJustin Weinrich
- ProducerAnita Afonu
- Executive ProducerJustin Weinrich
- FilmmakerJustin Weinrich
- CinematographerJustin Weinrich
- EditorJustin Weinrich
- Sound DesignJustin Weinrich
The Burning Field' is a unique ethnographic portrait of an environmental wasteland.
Conceived and recorded by anthropologist and filmmakers Justin Weinrich and Anita Afonu, this immersive film presents an unforgettable slice of daily life in one of the largest e-waste dumps on earth, located just outside of Accra, Ghana.
Considered to be the most toxic environment on the planet, Agbogbloshie is explored through the eyes of four young people who live and work there. The film follows three young men and one young woman as they break down and burn appliances and then sell the aluminum and copper to local vendors.
The film has been structured into the span of one day, beginning as a fresh load of electronic waste is dumped, following it through the process of being broken down and burned, and ending as the ashes are picked through.
Scenes of the four subjects are intertwined, and slowly revealing their individual desires, dreams, habits, sorrows... Presented entirely through their perspectives and in their own words, these four young people are our guides in this harsh world of e-waste disposal, and the humanitarian and environmental nightmare that lies at the end of this corrupt global industry.
- Year2020
- Runtime71 minutes
- LanguageTwi, Dagbani (English subtitles)
- CountryGhana, USA
- PremiereYes
- DirectorJustin Weinrich
- ProducerAnita Afonu
- Executive ProducerJustin Weinrich
- FilmmakerJustin Weinrich
- CinematographerJustin Weinrich
- EditorJustin Weinrich
- Sound DesignJustin Weinrich