The film’s intention is not to litigate the actions of a negligent corporation, nor to focus on its crimes. Instead, we want to pay a tribute to the communities affected by deadly extractive mining in Brazil and shine a light on the creative resistance of a handful of artists in the region.
Paul Heritage
Please note: this event has passed
The King's Brazil Institute is hosting a screening of Vale? Is it worth it?, a film by Paul Heritage and Marcelo Barbosa about the impact of the 2019 Brumadinho Dam collapse on communities and artists.
About the movie
Marking four years since the worst environmental crime in Brazil, People’s Palace Projects (PPP), an arts research centre for social and climate justice, launched the documentary Vale? (30’). This is the first film in Brazil about the collapse of a mining dam that killed almost 300 people in Brumadinho, to focus on the impact of this tragedy on the arts and culture of this region. The documentary had its pre-premiere in the BLOC media studio at Queen Mary, University of London.
Through music, poetry and circus performances, five Brazilian artists talk about their grief, fears, and hope four years after the Brumadinho Dam collapse. The documentary focuses on the impact of the collapse on the artistic and cultural heritage of this rich mining region in Brazil and asks - Is it worth it?
The clown Jô Alves (Passagem de Mariana, Minas Gerais, Brazil), actor and theatre director Lucas Fabrício (Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil), drummer and educator Rei Batuque (community of new generations of former slaves, Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil), musician Vitor Elias (Band São Sebastião, Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil) and rapper and poet Thiago SKP (Cultural Centre Carlos Drummond de Andrade, Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil) - reflect on the impact of mining activity and the disasters caused by the industry on their work as artists. They believe that despite the environmental crimes, arts, and culture are powerful tools of resilience and have been used to straighten social connections and bonds for the affected communities.
The film is a result of the international research project Roots of Resilience which mapped the value of the tangible and intangible heritage of the Iron Quadrangle in Brazil in partnership with five local artistic organisations directly impacted by mining activity. This study also looked at the effects on the environment in the region in collaboration with artists.
This is an in-person event. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the film director Paul Heritage and Andreza de Souza Santos.
At this event
Director, King's Brazil Institute
Event details
1.02Bush House South East Wing
Strand, London WC2R 1AE