Genre
Synopsis
This is a story of how Domingo Morales, 27, a climate warrior who is part of the demographic that is often excluded from New York City’s sustainability programs, becomes a leader of the compost movement. His meteoric rise parallels the demise of his mentor David Buckel, 60, who committed self-immolation in protest against climate change. Through Domingo, SON OF THE SOIL explores how to foster sustainability with a simple everyday task such as composting food waste - which reduces a third of our trash from ending up in landfills and in turn, reduces greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Domingo works with communities to build compost sites and adjacent micro-farms in their backyard, and grow food with the compost. Many of Domingo’s projects are situated in public housing that are typically food deserts due to structural racism in policy-making and allocation of resources. The knowledge of composting and creating more green spaces is a way to reverse the inequality and fight against global warming.
Bio
A filmmaker based in New York City, Eunice Lau draws on the power of the moving image to inspire transformative social change. Her feature documentary “Accept The Call”, set in Minnesota’s Somali community explores the impact of injustice and intergenerational trauma. It aired on PBS Independent Lens after screening at acclaimed film festivals. Her work is supported by organizations such as Jerome Foundation, Tribeca Film Institute, ITVS, Chicken & Egg Pictures, and Women Make Movies, and featured in publications including The New York Times, Variety, and Filmmaker Magazine. She holds a MFA in Film from New York University. She is currently working on two documentary film projects, while co-creating a TV series inspired by her second feature documentary “A-Town Boyz” which premiered at the New York Asian Film Festival in 2023.
Credits
Editor - Yasu Inoue
Cinematographer - Hiroo Takaoka
