Director Teboho Edkins and his father, producer Don Edkins, are set to premiere their deeply personal short film, an open field, at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) on November 19, 2023. The 38-minute documentary delves into the tragic crash of a Boeing 737 MAX in March 2019, which claimed the lives of all 157 passengers, including Teboho’s younger brother, Max Thabiso Edkins.
Journey of Grief and Community
In the wake of the disaster, Teboho and Don Edkins embarked on a journey to the crash site near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, seeking closure and understanding. The film’s synopsis highlights their quest for tangible connections to their grief. They discovered a local community that embraced mourning as part of their cultural identity. This community, too, was profoundly affected by the tragedy, illustrating how shared grief can foster human connection.
As Teboho Edkins explains, “The first time I visited the crash site, a giant crater in an open field, was shortly after the crash in 2019. Grief-stricken, I showed the local villagers sitting by the crater photos of my brother Max and realized that they had become the custodians of the site.” The documentary captures this poignant experience, emphasizing how the villagers welcomed the Edkins family into their community, treating the victims as beloved guests.
The film contrasts the heartfelt compassion of the villagers with the actions of Boeing, which has faced criticism for its handling of the crash and the flawed flight-control system that contributed to the disaster. Teboho’s exploration of the site aims to connect with his brother’s spirit by immersing himself in the sounds and memories of the location.
Filmmaking Against the Odds
Initially reluctant to participate in the project, Teboho found it challenging to confront the tragedy through film. “Years passed, and I found it very difficult to begin working on the project,” he notes. The family faced barriers to accessing the crash site, which were only lifted after extensive relationship-building by Don Edkins with local authorities and Ethiopian Airlines. In 2022, after much effort, they received exclusive permission to film, allowing the documentary to take shape.
Don Edkins expressed the need to address the injustices surrounding the tragedy. “Having grown up under apartheid in South Africa, I had always looked at how documentary cinema could spotlight injustice and human rights, and how I could use activism and creativity to navigate the grief we felt,” he stated. His commitment to highlighting the community’s experience and the broader implications of the crash is evident throughout the film.
In a significant moment during the first anniversary of the crash, Don met local families who gathered to mourn together, reflecting the unity and shared humanity that emerged from their collective sorrow. This experience heightened his resolve to create a film that brings attention to the lives lost and the community’s resilience.
an open field is co-produced by Carine Chichkowsky for Survivance, with cinematography by Jide Akinleminu and editing by Anne Fabini. The film features a blend of color and black-and-white imagery, presented in both English and Amharic. It will be showcased in the IDFA 2023 Competition for Short Documentary.
As part of the film’s promotion, The Hollywood Reporter has unveiled a clip that includes an eyewitness account of the crash, emphasizing the personal nature of Teboho’s project. The film closes with a poignant message from the filmmaker: “The film I didn’t want to make.”
As the IDFA premiere approaches, the Edkins family hopes that their documentary will resonate with audiences and shed light on the profound impact of personal loss and communal mourning.