The Most Extreme Railway in the World
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- Опубліковано 21 лис 2018
- At 430 miles long, the formidable Mauritania Railway, nicknamed the “backbone of the Sahara,” boasts some of the longest and heaviest trains in the world. Its journey begins in Zouerat, Mauritania, where 22,000 tons of iron ore are mined daily and transported across the searing desert to the port city of Nouadhibou, on Africa’s Atlantic coast. Sometimes the train also carries passengers-merchants who travel illegally atop the train to transport food and supplies to remote Saharan communities. The ride is treacherous. Many die en route. Read more:
"The Mauritania Railway: Backbone of the Sahara" was directed by Miguel de Olaso. It is part of The Atlantic Selects, an online showcase of short documentaries from independent creators, curated by The Atlantic.
Subscribe to The Atlantic on UA-cam: bit.ly/subAtlan... - Фільми й анімація
this is world class cinematography. incredible.
Miguel take this flim to a next level
Indeed: amazing! Quality comparable to NatGeo or BBC who have huge budgets...
@@JudeMoneymaker Well put mate. It was incredible!
This channel steals video from natgeo
@@JudeMoneymaker its not in house production by National Geographic or Atlantic. Its the Doc Produced by independent filmmakers and showchase the docs in the Atlantic & NG UA-cam Channels. 🙂
This short film is so moving and haunting. Everything is so pleasing
I knew you were right even before watching the video. Beauty and intrigue in extreme conditions.
What I love about this is that it feels like a narrative short film from another planet but it is a documentary. This does such a good job capturing the dangerous, lonely rides on that behemoth of a train.
If you like this, the obvious inspiration Ron Fricke is highly recommended. He more or less invented this feel back in the 70s, and still puts out some astounding movies every decade or so. They are completely free of narrative though, so prepare yourself for an unusual film experience.
Also, start with his most recent, and work your way backwards, but skip the third film in his and Godfrey Reggio's "Qatsi" trilogy, as it gets a bit too experimental with some pretty dated effects.
The cinematography in this is amazing. And I don't know who this Mcgregor person is, but you got a bargain with him... director, editor, cinematographer, coloring...
Great short film! I spent a few hours playing with Google Earth and found that the mine in Zouerat is at 22°38'59.12" N 12°26'39.65" W. The line actually splits near Fderik, which is 14mi (23km) west of Zouerat. The mountain range between those two cities has numerous mines, some working, some abandoned. The one closest to Fderik is at 22°40'28.63" N 12°41'16.51" W. When the line splits, the "northern" section continues east to another mine at 22°51'46.20" N 12°18'14.84" W and even further east to huge mining area at 22°56'52.89" N 12°03'06.20" W which is approximately 8.5mi (13.5km) long. Plug the coords into Google Earth and zoom out to see how big these mines are, yet how small they compare to the barrenness of the desert.
What a stunning piece of cinematography! Well done Miguel.
This atmosphere would be perfect for a movie. It reminds me of the film director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.
Have you seen Samsara?
@@chronicfantastic No I haven't.
I hadn't realized how much Star Wars was influenced by camels.
Someone beat me to it, but go devour everything Ron Fricke has ever done, if you like this. He is a one of a kind cinematographer, and his style has influenced pretty much every single great director/cinematographer since the 70s. Even if you're an artist in another field, his approach to his own medium is groundbreaking, while being deceptively simple.
Absolutely extraordinarily amazing
This film is hauntingly beautiful. The music is perfect. The faces of the people are so sad and stern and intense. I can't imagine what it must be like to live there.
Well done. The frontiers of Africa where people still trade. The "Eye of the Sahara", also known as the Richat Structure in the west-central of Mauritania is worth exploring. It has great archeological potential as well as the people who live around the region.
Some sad facts about Mauritania, they didn't outlaw slavery until 1981, and they didn't pass laws to enforce that ban until 2007. Even today, indentured servitude contracts have to be signed by most of Mauritania's working poor in order to have a job, as nearly everything in Mauritania that could be used to start a business for oneself is owned entirely by rich families that made their wealth in centuries past selling slaves. There are almost no job opportunities there other than what those families provide. Mauritania is a nightmarish slave state.
sounds like capitalism doesn't work
No wonder no one looked happy, at all..
@@mmmk1616 well, they are quite literally a small, poor, desert bound, third to fourth world country with a mono export culture, backwards religion, colonial history and one single railway to connect everything.
I wouldn't expect any people at all, happy or not. Just the description is a hellish nightmare.
@@jorgeamadosoriaramirez8953 Yes, it's horrible.
Bob Miller ah were is colonialism when you need it?
Amazing film. Hats off to whoever produced this short film.. Such amazing use of the footage and the music really mesmerized me..
The haunting music pulls me into the very soul of this film. I am there in spirit.
Belleza total. The landscape, the movie. Even the music is great. Thanks.
Amazing. A single 12 mins YT vídeo just placed Mauritania on my bucket list. I’d like to ride the train with the locals and taste fresh fish from their neck of the Atlantic Ocean.
inb4 kidnapped and robbed
smartraveller.gov.au/Maps/Mauritania.png
Ah memories...I rode this train in 2008. Sat on the ground with the locals who invited me to join them in eating couscous by hand. Talked about religion with new friends (how foolish!). Experienced the stars in the desert night.
That must have been so interesting, a great way to learn about other cultures, spending time with the people. This film is hauntingly beautiful.
Well done Andrew - a true traveller. In case you haven't seen it Arabian Sands by Wilfred Thessiger. One of the greatest travellers books ever penned.
These Atlantic documentaries are incredible. I've watched four in a row and the simplicity, beauty and the quality of the cinematography is mind-blowing. They reveal their stories in such a beautiful way. I feel like these Nomads live in a different space time continuum than the rest of the world. Compelling film making at its best. Thank you so much.
Amazing aesthetics and photography. Otherworldly landscapes and a direct to the point narrative, this documentary is fantastic. Congratulations to the crew envolved.
Who was the narrator? Such a soothing voice.
This channel steals video from natgeo
I hear no narrator. Just captions.
@@nurrahman4206 Interesting you say that, since the NatGeo upload of this video has noticeably reduced audio quality, almost as though THEY were the ones to steal the upload from The Atlantic (this channel).
Glad I found this, as it contains the original high quality audio, unlike the low bitrate audio on the NatGeo upload of this video..
Stunning cinematography, bravo...
This is the best color grading I've ever seen.
Wow, this was beautiful. DIdn't expect to be pulled in to a video as much as this did. Glad it taught me something in the process. Amazing camera work
Spectacular. The power of visual narrative is extraordinary. The paradox of time standing still for the families living by the railways while men aboard it endure 30 hours of burning heat is so moving, Hats off to the Atlantic and Mr. Macgregor in particular. You are a master Sir. Want to work alongside you one day.
Check out Ron Fricke. He basically invented this sort of visual, free narrative with Godfrey Reggio back in the 70s, and has been perfecting it ever since. Hands down one of the greatest cinematographers of all time, and undoubtedly the greatest of all time when it comes to non-narrative film. Start with Samsara, his latest, or Powwaqatsi and Koyaanisqatsi his two first.
that was a beautiful film and an amazing story
Mauritania is so beautiful and savage at the same time. It's like stepping into a whole new world. Cinematography is amazing.
thank you
the cinematography is stunning and it is true about all of the information in it i know that because am from mauritania my self this video also has one of the best camera qualities i have ever seen after all its a great video that shows big part of mauritania
Never in my life has cinematography made me cry! Beautiful.
I am so glad I bumped into this short film! The framing, the sounds, the whole atmosphere, just perfect! Definitely saved into my inspiration folder :)
Awesome 🙏🏽☺️ this was beautiful I only wish it was longer😇
Thanks so much
WHO TOLD YOU THAT!? I see you in the comments section a lot. Nice to see people appreciate this sort of stuff.
This was just ... enlightening .. sad .. beautiful .. breathtaking .. absolutely just AMAZING.
This is exquisite....amazing cinematography to an amazing part of the world that shows how humanity exist in its own synbiotic cosmos based on such a trying environment. I have seen this film dozens of times and I am often mesmerized with the raw and organic sounds of the wind, sand and the reflection in the faces of its inhabitants. How trying it is for Malik's journey to make ends meat but I can see the piece and satisfaction that is present in his reprieve while riding the train from such arduous effort to exist in a harsh world that makes capitalism so hard to obtain for many and how so few get to engage. Lovely film to a lovely and fantastically harsh environment where at least once in my life I have to see and experience with my own eyes and presences.
Great presentation , thanks
Very interesting. I am glad that I found this video. Photography is great, the music is great and the people are so interesting.
Beautiful. Wish I could work for you guys
Simon Williams why don't you research, apply, and make it so?
houseofflyingdaggers it is incredibly difficult to get a job with these well known media outlets. I’m sure he would apply if he could but maybe he doesn’t have the right experience.
didn't the national geographic post the same vid ages ago???
Yeah..I watched it.
Yes, with shitty audio (as for many videos on their YT channel).
@@hasnat9545 k
@@HiAdrian lol
varun kumar yes! Wtf
Beautiful
Sensational cinematography. Great sound, great editing, great video. Amazing. Don't find stuff like this on UA-cam very often!
a spectacular film I watched it intently
Really enjoying these selected docs.This one in particular. More people need to see these.
The cinematics are top notch
The sound and score feels like it was blessed by Hans Zimmer.
I wasn't expecting this! Fantastic cinematography! Incredible production! First class documentary! I enjoyed the video very much! Bravo!
Wow, this footage is amazing. After seeing it I feel like I've just watched a very good movie/documentary. The creators are very talented.
Awesome. Deserve more viewers
Phenomenal work. I salute and greet these men and women of the desert whose lives are so tough yet so real - Salaam alehkum!
Such phenomenal filmmaking. Music is perfect.
Masterclass cinematography and great directorial work. Would recommend this to anyone.
The cinematography and editing is simply outstanding. Incredible documentary
Absolutely beautiful cinematography.
These videos of Atlantic are so well made. Kudos guys !!
Awesome! This video is so outstandingly good. The quality is excellent and fascinating. I enjoyed it with full tension.
A work of art. Thank you.
Mesmerizing.. especially the sound..
Theres another location I`ll never have to visit because of the superb photography and editing.
Excellent video.
Greetings from the UK.
John.
I bet these will be among the first people who will enter Paradise. They deserve it.
Footsteps at the beginning sound EXACTLY like Minecraft, I can’t get over it
what a masterpiece, fantastic cinematography, Baraka style
the visuals and cinematography is heaven
jay tanatswa Muzhingi don't call it the Visuals!! What does that even mean?
Amazing production! Just love it
Absolutely wonderful! Very inspiring.
Thank you MacGregor, thank you Rhian Sheehan, for it is one of the finest gifts. Incredibly well done, so haunting, so thought provoking, and yet so beautifully minimalistic. Truly, a masterpiece. I am so glad I've stumbled upon The Atlantic.
Priceless
unbelievably beautiful
A work of art
Speechless 😶
In the 1980s during the drought, I saw many nomads in Dakar, Senegal, sleeping in the streets. They were so desperate for work on the wharves. I was told they were from Mauritania.
Beautiful cinematography!
Wonderfully done, I just wish it was longer it was so good!
Love when peoples traditions within their culture is keept alive not letting outside influences change their culture. Amazing n well done short film. My hats off to you.
Looks like they need some extra tourism.
Love how they are getting fucked, resources extracted, no job. Creation through refining, or creating finished products. Terrible, sure labor is cheaper in the country than performing tasks elsewhere, plus local population would learn a skill and diversify, not too mention provide jobs. Sad
This film was beautiful and pleasant but (1) presented Mauritania as if it's on a different planet with its eerie, space-like aesthetic, instead of a country that is highly intertwined with histories and present conditions of colonization and globalization, and (2) refused to allow Mauritanians to speak for themselves, instead insisting on speaking for them. When they did speak, no effort was made to translate.
Once again, Westerners exploit tropes of exoticism for profit without letting folks in the global south who are living in conditions we wouldn't have imagined to speak for themselves. I would call it lazy, but it wasn't, the film was a work of art. Just one born of colonial attitudes.
This inspired me to create new list.
I'd name it "Passionate Stuff"
Truly amazing in the full meaning of the word’s definition.
Beautiful and very well done.
absolutely stunning camera work!
10:00 Mallick has headphones! Music unites the world!
Really great work! Love the entire series.
This was fascinating. I'd love to see more stuff like this.
Best video on youtube
Masterpiece!
Beautiful production
This was very well done.
What do the people who live along the railway trade for the food and water?
Money?
@@lvseka Yes the money magically comes from the desert and they trade it for fish.
@@bobojr456 who cares where the money comes from? The question was what they use to trade in exchange and the answer is money.
@@lvseka I would say the person you were responding to.
Camel milk, camel meat, goat milk, goat meat. They may also buy things to sell to nomads. Necessity is the mother of invention.
beautiful film, the photography was outstanding.
Beautiful.
Amazing
Stunning film.
Excellent short film!
Well done! 🌏🌎🌍👋🏜️👍
This was absolutely amazing!
40C in a desert isn't as hot as it sounds, especially when all you're doing is sitting on a train. Some good clothes and a hat to keep the sun off you and some water bottles are you're good. Out in the open, moving, you'll barely even feel sweat.
aluisious
Apart from all the dust of the iron ore and if a light wind blows all the sand which gets everywhere and just hope you don't hit a sand storm.Oh and one more fun fact the Desert can get Bloody cold at night down to -5-6 deg. That is from Experience.
who filmed this? The Cinematography is beyond awesome. I could watch a movie like this.
Great piece!
A captivating video. Nice one!
Wow great work!!
Same video on NatGeo's UA-cam channel.
One trip each way would have basic passenger carrying cars coupled to the rear, with the total trip time 15 or 18 hours.
Beautiful!!
Amazing cinematography, unbelievably stunning.
I'm wondering how did u make them understand what u wanted to shot?
I'm from Mauritania and it is really hard to get nomads out of there confront zone.
Wow, beautiful.