ثقافة The Earth, the Lines of Life: A Russian Documentary on the Silk Road Caravan, Featuring Adnan Hilali
The Russian documentary The Earth, the Lines of Life was presented for the first time at the Global Summit on Combating Desertification, COP17, in Mongolia.
The film follows the Russian leg of the New Silk Road Caravan — a Caravan of Knowledge that travelled through Dagestan, Kalmykia and the Astrakhan region, exploring experiences in combating land degradation and desertification, as well as efforts to restore damaged landscapes.
Adnan Hilali attended the special screening, following his participation in the caravan and in the filming of the documentary.
He brought a Tunisian and African voice to an international dialogue on the future of the land, drawing on his experience in Semmama and Tunisia in confronting both cultural and environmental desertification.
Through the Russian steppes and semi-deserts, the film revisits the idea of the ancient Silk Road. But this new caravan carries no goods. Instead, it carries knowledge, experience and questions about the land that connects us all.
Produced by TV BRICS and directed by Ivan Zakharenko, the documentary features executive producer Nina Zimakova, cinematography by Artem Markov and Igor Rodionov, and a screenplay by Alexandra Borisova.
Hilali’s presence in the film was part of the production team’s desire to expand the Russian story into an international space, bringing an African voice into the wider conversation on desertification.
Despite the differences between the Russian steppes and Tunisia’s geography and climate, the two countries share a common question: How do we keep the land alive?
The director hopes to present the documentary in Tunisia soon, bringing this journey — from the Russian steppes to Mongolia, and from the Silk Road to North Africa — back to one of the places whose experience and perspective helped shape the film.
From the Silk Road to the screen in Mongolia, the caravan continues its journey through images. The Earth may change its lines, but life always leaves a trace worth following.
