AT/CAN 2025, col & bw, 96 min
When Fire Turns To Ash is an essayistic documentary that explores the history of Tierra del Fuego, its vanished cultures and empty natural landscapes, and creates a de-colonized reading of the landscape. The voice-over narration is composed of a wide variety of literary sources: historical travelogues, ethnographic writings about the indigenous population, myth collections, Darwin’s nature studies and contemporary genocide research. From these, a loose narrative thread is assembled that winds its way through the history of Tierra del Fuego. Different events are highlighted from the stream of history and illuminated as examples. There are several levels in the film: the images depict the present, while the narrative describes the past and the interviews with indigenous representatives describe the effects of colonialism.
The film focuses on the interface between nature and disappearing culture. I try to find the traces of absence in Tierra del Fuego today. I am convinced that history is inscribed in the landscape and that the absence caused by the genocide can be felt. The film is intended to make the invisible tangible and question my own tourist view of the “beautiful”, seemingly empty landscape.
When Fire Turns To Ash is the third instalment in the Ecological Grief Series, which focuses on various aspects of human interaction with nature in the Anthropocene. I try to explore environmental melancholy and the loss of places, species and ecosystems. After animals and inanimate matter, this part focuses on marginalized human groups.
sound, sounddesign, composition: Nick Kuepfer
voice: Elizabeth Anka Vajagic
indigene advisors: Alba Chaile, Miguel Pantoja
production manager, translation: Mariana Frandsen
script consultant: Barbara Pichler
sound mastering: Harris Newman
with: Miguel Pantoja, Rubén Maldonado, Tahali Ayelen Villanueva, Estela Maris Maldonado, Teresa Catalina Vargas, Maria Olinda Vargas, Tarsicio Vargas, Daniela Bogarin, Alba Chaile, Margarita Maldonado, Maria Salamanca, José Gonzalez Calderon, Luis Gomez Zarranga
supported by: iff Innovative Film Austria, CINE ART Styria, Wien Kultur
distribution: sixpackfilm
FULL LENGTH INTERVIEWS
Selk’nam community:
Estela Maris Maldonado
Margarita Maldonado
Rubén Maldonado
Miguel Pantoja
Maria Salamanca
Yagan community:
Daniela Bogarin
Eugenio Calderón (due to technical problems during recording, image only starts at 8’30 / debido a problemas técnicos durante la grabación, la imagen sólo comienza a las 8’30)
José González Calderón
Julia González Calderón (due to technical problems during recording, there is no image / debido a problemas técnicos durante la grabación, no hay imagen)
Maria Olinda Vargas, Teresa Catalina Vargas, Tarsicio Vargas
Luis Gomez Zárraga
other voices:
Tahali Ayelen Villanueva
Alberto Serrano Fillol
If you want to support the Casa Cultural Selk’nam which is a central space for Selk’nam culture and activity in Rio Grande, please send your donation via paypal to shesces@outlook.com. The funds are managed by Miguel Pantoja and even a small donation makes a big difference in these challenging times. Thank you!
Si quieres apoyar a la Casa Cultural Selk’nam que es un espacio central para la cultura y actividad Selk’nam en Río Grande, por favor envía tu donación vía paypal a shesces@outlook.com. Los fondos son administrados por Miguel Pantoja e incluso una pequeña donación hace una gran diferencia en estos tiempos difíciles. Muchas gracias!