In hardly any other city of the world can poverty and wealth be found as close together. “When the mountain meets its shadow” tells the stories of Ashraf, Mne, Zoliswa and Arnold, who, each in their own way, fight for survival in the informal settlements around Cape Town. While Ashraf and his friend Mne from the Anti Eviction Campaign fight against evictions, water- and electricity cut-offs in the townships, Zoliswa and Arnold put their trust in their ability to work. Zoliswa, a single mother, is looking for a new position as a cleaner and Arnold trains as an armed guard to work in the booming security industry. When the city council wants to clear an entire informal settlement, Ashraf and his friend Mne are confronted with their own, undigested experiences from the apartheid years...
Alexander Kleider, writer, director, producer. Born in Boblingen in 1975. Studied Communication Studies at the Free University of Berlin. Since 2001 he has made feature-length documentaries as well as contributions for cinema release and television (ZDF, ARTE). He has been a lecturer in documentary filmmaking since 2004.
Daniela Michel, writer, director, producer. Born in Stuttgart in 1975. Studied Arts, Film Studies and International Relations at the London Guildhall University, England. Since 2001 she has made feature-length documentaries and contributions for cinema release and television (ZDF, ARTE). She has been a lecturer in documentary filmmaking since 2004.
