As the energy transition turns lithium into “new gold,” the world’s eyes are on the Bolivian Andes—home to the planet’s largest deposits. While European diplomats and industry giants race to secure the raw materials needed to save the Western green industry, Bolivian civil society—led predominantly by women—mobilizes against a new wave of colonial-style extractivism. Through a multi-perspective observational lens, the film explores the clash between the Global North’s green dreams and the lived reality of the farmers, herders, and miners facing the consequences of industrialization. The film forces a critical question: is the green revolution just a new mask for old exploitation, and are we truly ready for decolonization?

Director: Jens Schanze

Jens Schanze (born 1971 in Bonn, Germany) is an acclaimed documentary filmmaker, writer, and cinematographer known for his deeply researched, long-term observational works that tackle complex ethical and social issues. In 2002, he co-founded the production company Mascha Film alongside Judith Malek-Mahdavi, which has since served as the creative hub for his major projects. Beyond directing, Jens Schanze is a dedicated educator. Since 2019, he has served as a Professor of Film Design at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology (THD), where he teaches the next generation of filmmakers how to balance technical proficiency with ethical storytelling.