Guardian of the Well

synopsis

In mid-2024, Chad experienced its worst drought in decades, most of the livestock died, people moved elsewhere, and the city disappeared. A chance encounter at a water well in the desolate Batha Prefecture opens a window into the situation of a Central African country affected by climate change.

“The droughts and floods in Chad aren’t isolated – they reflect broader climate change driven largely by industrialized nations.” — Bentley Brown

biography

Bentley Brown (born 1987) is an American producer, director, and university lecturer. At the age of eleven, he moved with his family to Chad. He focuses on topics such as global mobility and loss of identity. His films include First Feature (IDFF Ji.hlava 2018 and Rotterdam) and Oustaz (Berlinale 2016).

Tahir Mahamat Zene is a Chadian journalist who works for non-profit organizations in the field of community housing and social issues. He is involved in film and theatre. Guardian of the Well is his first film, which he co-produced and co-directed with Bentley Brown.

film details

director:	Bentley Brown, Tahir Ben Mahamat Zene
cast:	Youssif Mahamat
producer:	Bentley Brown, Tahir Ben Mahamat Zene
photography:	Gabriel Dae-sung Lee
production manager:	Abdelsalam Brahim