Alexei and the Spring

For centuries, an idyllic Belarus village has enjoyed natures bounty, until the nuclear fallout in Chernobyl ruined all its crops and livestock. 600 inhabitants were evacuated, leaving behind 55 elderly people and a young man named Alexei. Miraculously, they get by, sustained by a 100-year-old spring found to be unaffected by radiation. It became a fountain of hope for the villagers to rebuild their ecosystem, and attracted a Japanese film crew to spend three seasons there, to bring back not only an eco-message about the healing power of nature, but also insights into the power of spirituality as the age of reason draws to an end. (Viennale)