Located in the remote Namibian desert, the town of Oranjemund has long been reliant on opportunities provided by the local diamond mine, which for years has been the primary source of education, water, and job opportunities for the town’s residents. With the mine’s impending closure, Oranjemund’s diverse residents are left in limbo as they consider whether to stay or leave; adapt or give up.

Desert Paradise is a behind-the-scenes look at the complex bureaucracy that Oranjemund residents must navigate if they hope to assert their identity and create genuine independence for their village. The most committed among them take it upon themselves to try to fill the vacuum left by the mining company, fostering local economies in gardening and tourism in an effort to secure a better future for the town.