Tragedy in Mariana: these words still remain marked in the memory of Brazilians today. Addressing the theme, the documentary The safest place in the world was selected to be presented at the Canadian festival Vancouver Latin American Film Festival. The work talks about the consequences of tragedy which devastated the district of Bento Rodrigues, in Mariana (MG), after the failure of the Fundão dam. The Canadian festival started on September 7 and continues until Sunday (17).

Directed by Paulistanas Aline Lata It is Helene Wolfenson, the documentary follows Marlon, a young man whose life is transformed after falling victim to one of the world’s greatest socio-environmental disasters. Forced to migrate from the countryside to the outskirts of the city, he begins to face new conflicts. Some time later, he witnesses the repeat of another mining tragedy in Brazil, this time in Brumadinho, revealing the country’s neglect.

The film shows Marlon repeatedly coming into conflict with Samarco, the company responsible for the dam along with Vale and BHP. In addition, the documentary addresses the tragedy of accident victims. In world premiere, the film The safest place in the world won the Canon Jury Prize for Best International Film at the DocLisboa Festival. The work also earned nominations for the The Biarritz festivalFIDBA, Firenze Festival and for CineOP.

In an interview with RFI portal, Aline Lata commented on the importance of the production. “Mining is present in every country, in the objects we use. And the film talks about the consequences of this exploitation solely for profit, without thinking about sustainability,” he argues.

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What happened to Mariana?

The collapse of Samarco mining company’s Fundão Dam occurred in November 2015 and constitutes the worst socio-environmental disaster in Brazilian history. The Vale and BHP Billiton companies explored the resource together. At the time, the dam had released 55 million cubic meters of toxic sludge which destroyed the small neighborhood of Bento Rodrigues. The tragedy claimed the lives of 19 people and displaced more than 600 residents. In addition, the episode destroyed one of the most important rivers in the region, the Rio Doce, in which the mud traveled more than 800 kilometers. This disorder affected 39 municipalities in Minais Gerais and Espírito Santo.

the drama continues

Eight years later, many communities still need to be rebuilt. Brazil has already invested more than 20 billion reais in repairs, compensation for damages and restoration of the environment. In 2019, the Brazilian court removed the crime of homicide from the case. The court decision attributed the deaths caused by the collapse of the dam to the consequences of the flooding caused by the rupture.

Watch the trailer

Article edited on 09/13/2023, at 11:58 a.m.

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