The Devil’s Miner

The Devil’s Miner is an impressive and beautifully shot documentary with a very unusual story. The story is set in an old yet still-functioning silver mine in Cerro Rico, Bolivia. The miners are mostly of American Indian origin. Above ground, they are pious Catholics, but down in the mine, other rules apply. Down there, there is another God at work, or rather the devil. Only the devil can decide whether a rich vein of silver is found, and that’s why the corridors are full of mysterious images to honour the devil. Of course a story about Bolivian miners is also a social story. That story is told from the perspective of the young Basilio Vargas, who estimates his own age at 14. Together with his younger brother, he works in the mine every day. They don’t have a father, so the brothers have to earn their own living. They daydream of finding a lot of silver so they can escape and go to school, but that future is far from certain. In addition, the silver is not for the miners. The film makers traveled to Potosi in Bolivia several times over a period of five years to win the trust of the miners. The film is meticulously, patiently and skillfully shot. The directors preferred substance over style, and with a story like this, that is obviously an effective option. (GjZ)