
Suggested Watch Time -Saturday 10.30am followed by Q&A with Jessie Gibbs from HOME (Manchester) and Ignacio Aguiló (Manchester University)
With a host of awards and stunning cinematography this beautiful and poetic documentary follows Martín, an indigenous goat farmer from the Qom (or Toba) community in Argentina, who is trying to find out why his precious goats are dying. Their sickness is a metaphor for his people's land, which is being bulldozed and destroyed by huge multinational agribusinesses. In their fight for land rights the Qom organize demonstrations and conduct road blocks, mostly in vain, and still the goats keep dying. Martín turns to an ancient and magical solution: a pilgrimage to the elusive Black Tree, with its mythical power to break a curse. Will he find the answers there?
Presented by ¡Viva! Spanish & Latin American Festival at HOME, Manchester, with the support of the BFI Film Festival Fund, awarding funds from The National Lottery.
- Year2018
- Runtime79 minutes
- LanguageQom with subtitles
- CountryArgentina
- Rating12A
- NoteAt the center of the Earth there is a black tree: those who can reach it may be able to talk to the trees, send messages through birds and heal curses.
- DirectorMáximo Ciambella, Damián Coluccio
- ScreenwriterMáximo Ciambella, Damián Coluccio
- ProducerAgustina Santiago
- Executive ProducerMicaela Álvarez
- CastMartín Barrios, Valentín Suarez
- CinematographerCobi Migliora
- EditorLucia Torres
- ComposerMartín Barrios, Guido Pierangelli, Atilio Sanchez
- Sound DesignAtilio Sanchez, Lucia Torres


Suggested Watch Time -Saturday 10.30am followed by Q&A with Jessie Gibbs from HOME (Manchester) and Ignacio Aguiló (Manchester University)
With a host of awards and stunning cinematography this beautiful and poetic documentary follows Martín, an indigenous goat farmer from the Qom (or Toba) community in Argentina, who is trying to find out why his precious goats are dying. Their sickness is a metaphor for his people's land, which is being bulldozed and destroyed by huge multinational agribusinesses. In their fight for land rights the Qom organize demonstrations and conduct road blocks, mostly in vain, and still the goats keep dying. Martín turns to an ancient and magical solution: a pilgrimage to the elusive Black Tree, with its mythical power to break a curse. Will he find the answers there?
Presented by ¡Viva! Spanish & Latin American Festival at HOME, Manchester, with the support of the BFI Film Festival Fund, awarding funds from The National Lottery.
- Year2018
- Runtime79 minutes
- LanguageQom with subtitles
- CountryArgentina
- Rating12A
- NoteAt the center of the Earth there is a black tree: those who can reach it may be able to talk to the trees, send messages through birds and heal curses.
- DirectorMáximo Ciambella, Damián Coluccio
- ScreenwriterMáximo Ciambella, Damián Coluccio
- ProducerAgustina Santiago
- Executive ProducerMicaela Álvarez
- CastMartín Barrios, Valentín Suarez
- CinematographerCobi Migliora
- EditorLucia Torres
- ComposerMartín Barrios, Guido Pierangelli, Atilio Sanchez
- Sound DesignAtilio Sanchez, Lucia Torres