Upon the Earth

A person can be either a protector or an invasive force in nature. Director Tomáš Elšík's new documentary follows two stories: conservationist Pavel quietly mows meadows, protects rare plants, and restores peatlands in the heart of Czech countryside scarred by deforestation, while Klára and her four-legged companions investigate the causes of birds of prey deaths. When they discover the poisoned body of a protected white-tailed eagle, the investigation reveals a disturbing presence of a serial poisoner. The film merges environmental documentary with the rhythm of a criminal thriller.

"One of the fundamental things I wish we would understand is that nature – whatever we imagine it to be – is not merely a resource. It is our solid and inseparable part. That is easy to say, but for it to be true, we must actually experience it. And that is far more demanding than it may seem..." – Tomáš Elšík, director