Waubonsee Community College

The well, water voices from Ethiopia, regia, Paolo Barberi, Riccardo Russo

eng

videorecording

The well

electronic resource

908578023

regia, Paolo Barberi, Riccardo Russo

46

water voices from Ethiopia

The documentary follows the daily life which revolves around the ancient Erder wells, throughout the long dry season until the long-awaited rain comes. Every day the young shepherds form human chains, allowing them to reach the depths of the well and bring up the water. Their hard work is accompanied by a song which seems to draw the great herds as they slowly come near. After days and days of walking across dry and dusty land they are finally able to quench their thirst. During this time the well becomes a small integrated social system. By observing this world we can understand the delicate balance of the relationship between man and Nature that governs the existence of nomadic people in the Horn of Africa. In modern times, their survival is threatened by profound climatic changes and significant alterations in the natural rain cycle. Through interaction with several characters from this place, the film introduces us to a water management system that allows the Borana shepherds to manage the small quantity of available water as the property and right of everyone, in one of the driest inhabited regions in the world

adult

live action

Il pozzo, voci d'acqua dall'EtiopiaTulla, the singing well