Silver | WATCH DOCS

Natalia Koniarz’s remarkable film digs into the haunting story of Cerro Rico, the Bolivian mine that has yielded much of the world’s silver over the centuries. To understand this place, known locally as “the mountain that devours men,” one must confront both its history and its grim present. Stanisław Cuske’s artisan cinematography draws viewers deep into the mine’s darkness, capturing the peril, exhaustion, and eerie beauty of its subterranean world. The meticulously crafted sound design heightens the sense of being entombed in an endless, claustrophobic labyrinth. Cerro Rico is a vast network of tunnels where generations have sacrificed their health and lives, once for the glory of the Spanish crown, now for the profit of equally ruthless corporations. Above ground stretches a city held together by makeshift rules, where greed, corruption, and chaos reign. “Silver” is both an immersive sensory experience and a chilling reminder of the human cost of extraction. 

Konrad Wirkowski

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