Diamonds and Rust – The Spirit of Namibia

SCAM INTERNATIONAL AWARD

Off the coast of Namibia, the rust-ridden, diamond-mining ship The Spirit of Namibia cruises the area controlled by the De Beers syndicate. Waiting for their overdue leave, the oddly assorted crew put up with breakdowns, crises, suspicion, tensions and solitude. The film follows the daily life of six members from South Africa, Namibia, Cuba and Israel. This observation of the crew’s living conditions and different mentalities-particularly racial discrimination’uncovers an isolated microcosm, where rank is all important and work is hard’ particularly for the Namibians. A world of contrasts is revealed between these tiny priceless diamonds and the pittance earned by the sailors.