Darwin’s Nightmare (2004)

Hubert Sauper’s 2004 documentary Darwin’s Nightmare is a haunting exploration of the ecological and social repercussions of the fishing industry around Lake Victoria in Tanzania. Through a raw and unflinching lens, Sauper exposes the intricate web of exploitation, environmental devastation, and geopolitical complexities that swirl around this seemingly idyllic freshwater lake.

The Premise:

• The film opens with a Soviet-made Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane touching down on Mwanza airfield near Lake Victoria.
• This plane, arriving from Europe, carries processed fillets of the Nile perch, an invasive species introduced into the lake.
• The Nile perch’s voracious appetite has led to the extinction of hundreds of native species.
• Through interviews with various stakeholders—Russian and Ukrainian crew members, local factory owners, guards, prostitutes, fishermen, and villagers—the film unravels the multifaceted impact of this industry.

The Ecological Catastrophe:

• The Nile perch, exported as fillets to European markets, leaves behind a trail of ecological destruction.
• Meanwhile, the local population grapples with festering carcasses, as the prime fillets are shipped abroad.
• The film starkly contrasts European aid flowing into Africa with the simultaneous influx of munitions and weapons from European arms dealers.
• These same planes that transport Nile perch fillets also carry arms, perpetuating conflicts that aid was meant to alleviate.

Human Suffering:

• The appalling living conditions of indigenous Tanzanians come into sharp focus.
• Basic sanitation is absent, and children turn to drugs and prostitution.
• While the fish industry thrives, the local people struggle to survive on the leftovers.
• Curiously, the fish cannot be sold domestically to counter impending famine because it is deemed too expensive.

Globalization Unveiled:

• Darwin’s Nightmare lays bare the dark side of globalization.
• It reveals how the global appetite for cheap fish wreaks havoc on local ecosystems and communities.
• The film’s title alludes to the survival-of-the-fittest concept, where the Nile perch thrives while other species perish.

Critical Acclaim:

• Critics have hailed the documentary for its unflinching portrayal of globalization’s impact.
• With an approval rating of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, it brings to light the shocking consequences of our interconnected world.
• Metacritic rates it with universal acclaim.

In this cinematic wake-up call, Sauper forces us to confront uncomfortable truths. Beneath the shimmering waters of Lake Victoria lies a complex tapestry of exploitation, survival, and human suffering—a nightmare that transcends borders and demands our attention.