What the Soil Remembers is a captivating documentary that takes the audience on a journey through the rich history of a small Western Cape town called ‘The Vlakte’. The film carefully combines archive footage and contemporary visuals to highlight the town’s past, showcasing its cultural beauty and the harmony in which its people once lived. It delves into the memories of the town’s elders and youth, highlighting the love and cultural understanding that brought people from different backgrounds together. However, the film also explores the impact of apartheid and the role that Stellenbosch University played in the town’s displacement. Through creative storytelling, the film weaves the town’s history with the university’s contentious legacy to spark a necessary conversation about addressing the wrongs of the past. What the Soil Remembers is a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of small towns like The Vlakte and the impact of our actions.
The Whose Land is it Anyways? Shorts Block includes Our Land, The Gooseberry Grandmother and What the Soil Remembers
