IN CINEMAS
ABOUT THE FILM
"The film is breathtaking, as Alastair Evans captures Hang Son Doong’s beauty incredibly. The imagery alone nails down the importance of keeping these caves untouched by anything resembling corporate greed."
—Film Threat
Q&A
Thur 25 May: Curzon Soho, London
Tue 30 May: Duke's at Komedia, Brighton
Wed 31 May: Hackney Picturehouse, London
Thu 01 June: Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge
Mon 05 June: Phoenix Cinema, Oxford
Wed 14 June: Curzon Sheffield, Sheffield
Thur 15 June: Picturehouse Central
Fri 26 May
Sat 27 May
Sun 28 May
Mon 29 May
Tue 30 May
Wed 31 May
Thu 1 June
Fri 2 June
Newlyn Filmhouse, Newlyn
Fri 9-11, 13 June
Tue 13 June
Abbeygate Cinema, Abbeygate
Wed 14 June
Curzon Canterbury Westgate, Kent
Curzon Kingston, London
Magic Lantern, Tywyn
Fri 23, 25, 27 June
Chichester New Park Cinema
Sun 25 June
Tue 27-29 June
Fri 30 June, 1 & 6 July
Sun 2 July
Magic Lantern, Tywyn
DIRECTED BY:
ALASTAIR EVANS
Hang Sơn Đoòng which translates as “mountain river cave”, is located in the Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park in Quảng Bình Province in Vietnam. The national park is also a UNESCO world heritage site.
First found in 1990 by a local farmer, it wasn’t explored until 2009 when a British expedition team rigged ropes and descended down.
Many people have described Sơn Đoòng as a lost world. It has its own lake, jungle and even a unique weather system.
In 2014 plans were announced to build a cable car into Sơn Đoòng.
With many arguing that this would destroy the cave’s delicate eco-system and the local community divided over the benefits this development would bring, the film follows those caught up in the unfolding events.
The documentary also uses the narrative as a lens through which to investigate related themes such as the challenges of modern day exploration, environmental conservation & sustainability, and the perils of operating as an activist in a country such as Vietnam where freedom of speech is severely curtailed.