Darßer NaturfilmFestival 2025: Program section "Competition"
Marie Velakutshi dives into the depths of the Congo River up to 150 times a day to bring up mussels. This is strenuous and dangerous work. The current in the river is strong and threatens to pull Marie out again and again. But the young woman has no other choice. It is the only work she knows and the only way she can earn money. Shell hunting is traditionally a woman's job here. But how much longer can Marie and her colleagues carry out this exhausting work? The mussels are dwindling and environmental protection regulations are looming. Marie would also like her children to find easier work one day. She may be one of the last shell divers in the Congo Delta.
Germany // 2024 // 52 min. // no age rating
Director: Dietmar Klumpp
Written by: Dietmar Klumpp
Cinematography: Lukas Wunschik
Editing: Michelle Barbin
Music: Sebastian Budde, Carlo Maierski
Sound: Cedrick Mbongo
Editing: Tino Schroedl (Medienkontor), Valerie Theobaldt, Jörg Krause (Arte)
Producer:in: Kerstin Walz; Susann Levenig
Producer:in: Theo Baltz
Production: Arte, Medienkontor
Dietmar Klumpp
Dietmar Klumpp is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. He won the Bavarian Television Award for his documentary about the Congo. He spent two years researching for this film, including six months in Africa. His documentary report on the German Bundestag was nominated for the German Television Award. After 15 years of professional experience, he specializes in political and scientific topics and films about foreign countries, such as Iran, China, Brazil and the Vatican.
