Burning from the Inside
Synopsis
This feature documentary is an interview with several members of a Nigerian tribe called Ijaw, of which several million are living in the oil-rich region of the Niger Delta.
Nigeria is the world's sixth largest exporter of crude oil, holds the fourth largest reserve of oil and gas and is an important supplier of oil to the US. Since the British left Nigeria in the 1960s the country has been in a state of semi-civil war, wracked by religious conflicts, and its natural resources looted by western companies, as a result of which millions of people have died.
The people interviewed in this film have all suffered horrendous violence in their struggle for independence. Some have been on death row, some raped, some kidnapped and even tortured. Off camera they are quite willing to talk but on camera they were too scared because of possible repercussions. Their story still transpires throughout these portraits.
The project started in January 2000 and by September 2004, during which time the media had changed their general mood be describing the situation of 'gangs, local tribes and the oil companies in conflict' as 'armed militants and guerrillas against the government in a war zone'.
Details
- Year
- 2007
- Type of film
- Features
- Running Time
- 100 mins
- Format
- 35mm
- Director
- Nick Peterson
- Producer
- Christine Peterson, Laurent Mercier
- Co-Producer
- Christine Peterson, Laurent Mercier
- Editor
- Thomas Black, Nick Peterson
- Screenwriter
- Nick Peterson
- Director of Photography
- Nick Peterson
- Sound
- Mike Militello
- Music
- Virtual Alien
- Principal Cast
- Over 20 members of the Ijaw tribe of Nigeria, Ibiba Don Pedro, Oronto Douglas, Rowland Ekperi
- Narrator
- Mark Joseph
Genre
Production status
Complete
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Last updated 22nd August 2008
