They Planted a Stone

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Movie
Original title They Planted A Stone
Country of production United Kingdom
original language English
Publishing year 1953
length 25 minutes
Rod
Director Robin Carruthers
script Robin Carruthers
production James Carr
music Elisabeth Lutyens ,
John Hollingsworth
camera Ronald Anscombe
cut Frances Cockburn

They Planted A Stone is a British short documentary film directed by Robin Carruthers in 1953. It deals primarily with the Jazirah project , which is about irrigation .

action

Hassan reports how things are going with the agricultural use of the Nile water in Sudan . The Sudans want to use the water more effectively so that they have more fertile land available and the cultivation of sorghum is no longer entirely dependent on how much rain falls. The young man goes on to say that he grew up knowing that every seven years there would be famine due to lack of rain. He goes on to say that his family has been forced to become nomadic because their goats, which they provide with milk and wool, have to graze and there is not enough grass in one place for them to eat.

Hassan goes on to say that when he was 20 he married and built a house and that his first son was named Said. He then reports that a car came into the village and the fair-skinned men did things that were incomprehensible to him - here the narrator takes the perspective of his son - and planted a stone.

The narrator's voice changes and provides information about projects to bring the Nile water to the plains with the help of engine power. It is cotton are grown, to promote the development of the country through export earnings and the so-called Gezira Scheme to finance. The buildings and plans - also under British leadership - for Egypt are discussed.

Now Hassan reports on the negative effects of the British project on his existence. The stolen land is now used for cotton growing, which means that his goats can no longer graze there. When a fair-skinned man comes into the village again, he is suspicious and does not want to believe its promises, but is taught otherwise.

Now the voice changes again and reports on the construction and functioning of the Sannar Dam and the positive effects on agriculture. Hassan then tells about the changes in cultivation that have happened, e.g. B. mechanization and motorization. He also mentions his adjustment difficulties, which he eventually overcome. After all, he is successful in growing cotton and no longer has to move around with the goats. There is now medical care in the village and products such as tea can be bought from other countries. The new houses would now be built of brick and mortar. A modern well has also been built and two schools have been built. A villager was promoted to field inspector. The cotton is a blessing.

Finally, the other voice explains the financial conditions of the project and other realized and planned projects on the Nile, before she praises cotton as white gold and the film ends with shots of happy village scenes.

Oscar nomination

The film was nominated for the trophy at the Academy Awards in 1954 in the category “Best Documentary Short Film” .

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