A documentary exploring the life of Yauguiha Mohamed, a young Sahrawi refugee leading a mine-clearing team in Western Sahara, will premiere on 11 September at the DOCanarias International Reality Film Festival in Puerto de la Cruz. Directed by Agustín Domínguez, “La Berma” is part of the festival’s ‘Tercera Orilla’ section, which showcases productions that highlight the islands’ role as a link between continents.
The screening will take place at 6:00 PM in the Sala Timanfaya, followed by a session featuring “El mapa para tocarte” by Mercedes Afonso. After its debut at DOCanarias, the film will also be shown at the 35th edition of the Madrid Film Festival, which focuses on independent cinema.
“La Berma” delves into the experiences of Mohamed, who made history as the first woman to lead a demining brigade on the world’s longest operational military minefield, a 2,720 km structure separating areas controlled by Morocco and the Polisario Front, often referred to as the “wall of shame.” The film captures her daily challenges as she works to secure a region littered with over ten million landmines and unexploded ordnance from decades of conflict.
With a degree in Biology, Mohamed’s work involves meticulously searching the sandy terrain for explosives, which are then neutralised through controlled detonations. This crucial task aims to restore safety in a landscape still affected by long-standing violence.
Domínguez emphasises the bleak reality of ongoing conflict between the Polisario Front and Morocco, which often goes unreported. He believes that while support for Canary Island reality cinema is thriving, additional efforts are needed to improve distribution, as finished works face significant barriers that limit their visibility outside the region. He advocates for a collaborative approach to enhance the profile of Canary Island cinema.
The documentary receives support from Gran Angular and the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, along with contributions from various cultural and solidarity organisations.
