Synopsis

Free admission and filmmaker Q&A!

In Kolwezi, where the earth bleeds cobalt and the future is forged in dust, a quiet war rages. Beneath the shadow of multinational giants, the artisanal miners of Mutoshi, Kakwama, and Kamilombe dig—not just for survival, but for dignity, for the right to remain on the land of their ancestors. They stand at the fault line of a world racing toward a green energy transition, where cobalt fuels high-tech dreams and global powers clash in a contest of greed.

Between the towering machines and the calloused hands of miners, between the promises of progress and the cost of extraction, a question lingers in the cobalt-laden air: who will endure? The corporations, armed with capital and coercion? Or the miners, bound by history, resilience, and a determination to reclaim their place in the land’s story?

This screening is supported by UC Riverside’s College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Science (CHASS) Dean’s Office and the Center for Ideas and Society. Additional support is provided by the Department of English, the Department of Black Study, the Department of Media & Cultural Studies, and the Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production.

Film Details

Director: Petna Ndaliko Katondolo
Running Time: 30 minutes
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Release Year: 2025
Rated: Unrated