Talking Hands
 

Jewelers and other stakeholders from the territory reveal the sumptuous cultural universe that the communities of Chocó (Colombia) have developed for centuries around gold, mining, and jewelry, amidst one of the most biodiverse and humid ecosystems on the planet.

 

The narrative adopts an experimental approach, using color as a symbolic tool to question which "breed" of gold should be most valued: the metal extracted for the benefit of a few—fuelling war in the region—or the vital rainforests and rivers crucial for the planet. This symbolism is enhanced by a fast-paced editing tempo and vigorous B-roll imagery. The documentary amplifies the voices of Afro-Chocoan and Indigenous peoples of the Colombian Pacific, who endure some of the lowest living standards in Colombia. It highlights how these communities are caught between state neglect, corruption, and the epic destruction of their natural environment due to a lack of work opportunities and the prevalence of illegal, mechanized gold mining.

 

Talking Hands calls for action to protect the dignity of the inhabitants, their rich ancestral heritage, and the unparalleled diversity of the biogeographic Chocó, often referred to as the planet’s second lung.​