A feature film on the environmental crisis in Jordan
2020, 77 min.
“Making the desert bloom?“
LIVING WATER is an atmospheric journey into the clash between the state of Jordan, agricultural businesses and Wadi Rum indigenous communities over the last abundant source of drinking water.
Synopsis
The vibration of machines echoes across the desert. Ever since Jordanian nomads settled in the spectacular landscape of Wadi Rum, they grew dependent on complex water infrastructure. The source is right below their feet, yet they struggle to meet basic needs.
In the meantime, deep water extraction feeds private large-scale farms, animates visionary development and secures the growing urban population. Bedouins, farmers and city dwellers: all expect to have a fair share, but digging for “blue gold” unleashes an environmental timebomb.
Technical Specifications
- English title: Living Water
- Czech title: Žít vodu
- Arabic title: ماءٌ حَيٌّ
- Genre: observational non-fiction
- Release: October 2020
- Language: Arabic, English
- Subs available: Czech, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian
- Countries of production: Czech Republic, Switzerland, Jordan
- Shooting location: Jordan
- Runtime: 77 min. / 52 min. TV cut
- Format: 4K, 16:9
- Sound: stereo / 5.1 Dolby Digital
Film Crew
- Camera, directing and editing: Pavel Borecký
- Location sound and sound design: John Grzinich
- Co-production and dramaturgy: Veronika Janatková
- Colour grading: Branko Avramovski
- Graphic design: Daniel Vojtíšek
- Music: Shadi Khries
- Research supervision: Michaela Schäuble, Elias Salameh
- Script consultations: Hussam Hussein
- 3D groundwater model: Muna Dahabiyeh, Mark Gropius
Production
Anthropictures, Pandistan, Institute of Social Anthropology UNIBE, Center for Strategic Studies UJ
Distribution
Antipode: Elena Podolskaya – elena(at)antipode-sales.biz
Awards:
- CineEco / Valor da Água – The Best Water Film
- Academia Film Olomouc / Spotlight Award
- Czech Association of Directors and Scriptwriters (ARAS) / Nomination for the Best Debut Film of 2021
Competitions (selection):
- Ji.hlava Film Festival – World Premiere – CZ
- Visions du Réel – International Premiere – Switzerland
- Movies that Matter – Netherlands
- CPH:DOX – Denmark
- Academia Film Olomouc – CZ
- Film Festival Palić – Serbia
- DokuFest – Kosovo
- Nancy Film Festival – France
- Visioni dal Mondo – Italy
- CineEco – Portugal
- Seminci – Spain
- Manifesta 14 – Kosovo
Conferences (selection):
- Anthropology and Conservation – The Royal Anthropological Institute (UK)
- Global Interconnections in a Possible World – International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (Mexico)
Trailer
Posters
