A Crack in the Mountain [TBC]

about this film

Deep in the jungle of Central Vietnam lies a magnificent underground kingdom. Hang Son Doong, which translates as ‘mountain river cave’ is the largest cave passage in the world and a place of spectacular natural beauty.
Located in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh Province, the cave entrance was first discovered in 1990 by a local farmer. But it wasn’t explored until 2009 when a British expedition team rigged ropes and descended down.
Many people have described Son Doong as the 8th wonder of the world. With its own lake, jungle and even a unique weather system, its pristine charm has remained undisturbed for millions of years.
In 2014, Son Doong’s future was thrown into doubt when plans were announced to build a cable car into the cave. With many arguing that this would destroy the cave’s delicate eco-system and the local community divided over the benefits this development would bring, the film follows those caught up in the unfolding events.

‘Natural wonders like…Son Doong Cave have to be preserved for our children and our grandchildren.’ Barack Obama

Director’s Statement
When approaching the story of Son Doong Cave I knew from early on that I wanted this film to be more than just a pretty nature documentary. Son Doong is an extraordinary place. Of that there is no doubt. But alongside capturing the cave’s beauty, I also wanted to tell a human story.
At its core, A Crack in the Mountain is a lens through which to explore the challenges which modern day Vietnam faces. As the clock ticks down and people around the world struggle to find that optimum balance point between environmental sustainability and economic growth, nowhere is this battle more keenly contested than in a rapidly developing nation such as Vietnam.
Throughout the process of shaping the narrative, I wanted to make sure that the film didn’t take the easy road and become just a polemic railing against the destruction of the natural environment. Instead, my goal was to try and explore some of the complexities of this difficult and challenging issue.
It would be easy to simply say that places like Son Doong should be protected and preserved, no matter what. But to what lengths should we go to protect a beautiful place? When does the cost to the local people become too high a price to pay? Is Nature there to serve us or are we merely custodians of something which is far bigger than ourselves?
These are some of the conflicting issues A Crack in the Mountain aims to explore.

official trailer

about the barn

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