Synopsis
Goto first pageSynopsisHandmade in BangladeshA film by Liz Bachhuber & Florian Wehking
In short episodes the film tells the stories of average working people who live in a rich cultural heritage of artisian handicraft and creativity. They invent many ways of recycling in order to make a living out of - basically nothing - in the sense of “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” In that way Handmade in Bangladesh offers an alternative point of view to the often one-sided, negative media image of this young, independent country.
Besides being one of the poorest and most densely populated countries in the world Bangladesh has major problems like environmental challenges, child labor and dangerous conditions for workers. But that is not the entire picture. There are many creative, open-minded, upbeat and proud people who want to build their country literally with their own hands. Their struggle for survival and a better education is directly related to global capitalism and the standard of living and consuming in the West.
Handmade in Bangladesh gives you names and shows you some of the faces of the people who help produce low-priced commodities and, in doing so, help to secure the western wealth and advantage. The film documents their efforts and shows the passion with which they fight for a better future.
Deutsche Version
Highly RecommendedGerman Board of Film RecommendationExcerpt from the jury statement
The documentary by Liz Bachhuber and Florian Wehking, who are presenting their directorial debut with this film, sheds light on many different work situations under the highly topical aspect of sustainability. Various people in different circumstances are presented and interviewed episodically. Be it a lecturer at a university, an owner of a small business or a craftswoman. The optimistic view that the film provides distances itself in a clever and informative way from the negative media image that is often spread about the country.
The camera work, which was done by director Florian Wehking, is convincing thanks to the well thought-out composition and many close-ups, which allow the viewer to really get close to the individual people portrayed. The dramaturgical and scenic concept of the film appears straightforward and coherent and makes the film very accessible to the audience. As the stories are only told by the various protagonists, the film is extremely authentic and creates a kind of panopticon of society and the general situation in the country.
Handmade in Bangladesh is an instructive, inspiring and important documentary about the young and emerging Bangladesh. A film that invites the audience to learn many interesting things about the country and its people. And to continue to engage with the issues even after the movie.
See the full jury statement here (in German).
HairrecyclingSalma Khatun17 years old
Trailer & News
Goto first page
NewsFestivals & Screenings
Awarded with the Seal of Recommendation “Highly recommended”
At its meeting in November 2023, the jury of the Deutsche Film- und Medienbewertung FBW (German Board of Film Recommendation) awarded our film with the Seal of Recommendation Highly recommended with 5:0 votes. In their statement they said: “An enlightening and reflective look at a fascinating country on the move.”
We are thrilled and proud to receive this outstanding rating!
Fashion Revolution Week at Moritzhof Magedburg 2023
From 24 to 28 April 2023, our film was shown to 8th and 9th grade students in 5 screenings at the cinema of Moritzhof Magdeburg as part of the Fashion Revolution Week. Afterwards there was time for talks and discussions.
On 27 April, we were there ourselves and answered the interested questions of the pupils. Thank you very much for this opportunity!
Eugene Environmental Film Festival in 2022
From 15 to 24 April 2022, our film will be shown at the Eugene Environmental Film Festival in Eugene, Oregon in the USA. The festival invites you to learn about different cultures, traditions, wildlife, the beauty of the planet, adventures, ecosystems, sustainable practices, and resistance efforts to protect our planet through the films shown. The festival takes place online and is open to all!
Award ceremony at Cinema e Ambiente 2021 in Avezzano
On October 30, 2021, at the film festival “Cinema e Ambiente” in Avezzano (Italy), we received the award for the best feature-length documentary in the category “No Planet B”. The award ceremony took place in the beautiful house of the Parco Naturale Regionale Sirente Velino in Rocca di Mezzo.
Many thanks to all involved for the beautiful evening and the great program in Abruzzo!
North Dakota Human Rights Film Festival 2021
The next film festival where we will screen our film is the fifth annual North Dakota Human Rights Film Festival and Summit in Fargo.
The in-person festival will take place November 2-18, 2021 in Fargo at the historic Fargo Theatre and in satellite screenings throughout North Dakota, with all films also screened online in a virtual cinema.
Another award for our documentary!
Another festival in Italy and another award for our documentary “Handmade in Bangladesh” ! We are very happy to win the award for best foreign feature length documentary at the fantastic Retro Avant Garde Film Festival RAGFF in Venice! Many thanks to the team and the festival jury!
Award for the best feature-length documentary
We are so happy and honored to have won the award for best feature length documentary in the category “No Planet B” with our documentary at the amazing film festival Cinema e Ambiente Avezzano in Italy! Many thanks to the whole team of this wonderful festival!
Awareness Film Festival 2021
From 21 to 31 October 2021, our film will be screened at the Awareness Film Festival 2021 in Los Angeles, California (USA).
The festival organizers see it as their mission to raise awareness and open eyes to some of the most pressing issues facing our world: Ecology, Politics, Health and Wellbeing. The festival takes place online on the film festival platform filmocracy.com.
Chelsea Film Festival 2021
The Chelsea Film Festival (CFF) 2021 in New York (USA), located right on Broadway, will screen our film Handmade in Bangladesh from 14 to 17 October 2021, both live on location at the Regal Theatre and in the online version on Eventbrite.
The festival was voted by USA Today as one of the top 10 (#6) best film festivals in North America in 2019, among 19 other film festivals in the US.
International Migration & Environmental Film Festival 2021
The International Migration & Environmental Film Festival 2021 in Toronto, Canada, will screen our film in its online edition from October 9–16, 2021.
The goal of the festival is to stimulate discussion and inspire people to engage with migration and environmental issues, and to use film and art to reshape a shared narrative.
Serbest International Film Festival (SIFF)
At the Serbest International Film Festival (SIFF) 2021 in Chișinău, Moldova, our film will have its Moldovan premiere from 23 to 30 September 2021.
Although the festival cannot be held at the Odeon Theater as usual due to Corona, there will be an online edition on the Cleeng.com platform.
Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival 2021
The Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia (USA) has invited our film and will screen it live on-site from September 23 to 25 2021.
The festival aims to promote understanding and appreciation of world cultures, artistic and creative expression, and engagement with global issues and social justice through the 87 films from 29 countries.
Realtime International Film Festival 2021
This time our film was invited to Lagos in Nigeria. Thus, our film will celebrate its African premiere at the Realtime International Film Festival (RTF) 2021.
From June 11 to 18 2021 it can be seen on location as well as online. We are very honored to be part of it.
Cinema e Ambiente Avezzano 2021
The Italian premiere of our film will take place on 4th of June 2021 at 3pm as part of the Cinema e Ambiente Avezzano Film Festival at Castello Orsini - Colonna in Avezzano. The wonderful festival near Rome features films with a focus on environmental issues and sustainable development. Our film is part of the category “No Planet B”. Many thanks to Marco for the interesting and nice interview we had the chance to do about our film.
Workers Unite! Film Festival 2021
New York, New York! Again we are invited to a big apple film festival. This time our film can be seen for free at the virtual preview of The Workers Unite Film Festival 2021 – as a celebration of Global Labor Solidarity – from May 7th to 12th 2021 on Eventive. Just register and watch the film.
From October 8th to 17th 2021 hopefully the festival will be held at the historic downtown Manhattan movie theater, Cinema Village.
ARTS x SDGS Festival
Another festival invitation that makes us very happy. Handmade in Bangladesh has been invited to the ARTS x SDGS Online Festival in New York. From 15 to 21 April 2021, our film can be seen online here. The festival is committed to supporting the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the artworks shown. We feel very honoured to be a part of it with our film.
Winnipeg Real To Reel Film Festival
We are very happy that our film has been invited to the Winnipeg Real To Reel Film Festival 2021 in Canada! The film will be screened in the online edition of the festival from 14 to 28 February 2021. You can purchase the festival pass for all films for $10 at www.winnipegfilmfestival.com
Saratov Sufferings International Film Festival of Documentary Drama
We are very happy that our film has once again been invited to an international film festival for independent documentary films. This time to Saratov in Russia, where the film will be shown in the competition Saratov Open City on 11 January 2021 at 6 p.m.
Award ceremony Beyond Film Festival
On Sunday 26 July 2020 we were invited to the online award ceremony of the Beyond Film Festival to participate. Our film was nominated as one of three films in the category of best feature length documentary of the festival. In the end we couldn’t take home the main prize, but we were very honoured to have been part of the nominations.
BEYOND Film Festival
23 - 26 July 2020
The focus of BEYOND Film Festival Future Design this year is on climate change and its effects. National and international films that deal with ecological and social problems, films that force society, politics and companies to rethink, films that create new narratives and ideas for the 21st century are invited.
Team premiere at Lichthauskino Weimar
On 22 January 2020 at 7:30 pm the team film premiere of Handmade in Bangladesh took place at Lichthauskino in Weimar. In the following discussion the interested audience asked and discussed many questions about the background and the history of the film. It was a nice and well attended first screening.
Further backgrounds
WoodworkerRomisa Biswas41 years old
If you ask a person from abroad, he or she will also praise their country. Being from here we feel good about our own country. […] I dream for my children to be well educated and for me to experience them doing a good job.”
Deleted SceneFishermen of Chittagong
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Credits
Cast & Crew
Liz Bachhuber & Florian Wehking
Protagonists
Mohammad Alamgir
Sharfaraz Ahmed
Nazimuddin Bepari
Selina Khatun
Prof. Muhammed Alamgir
Muhammed Jamal Hossain
Manjila Begum
Mohammad A K Salim
Hosne Ara
Mohammed Mojahur Biswas
Romisa Biswas
Muhammed Shakil Rana
Salma Khatun
Prof. Afroza Parvin
Idea
Liz Bachhuber
Director of Photography
Florian Wehking
Locations & Management
Sumaiya Rahman
Imran Faisal
Raihan Khan
Auditi Bridget Biswas
Imran Nazir
Interviews & Translations
Auditi Bridget Biswas
Editing, Postproduction & Design
Florian Wehking
Sound Design & Mixing
Florian Marquardt - Klangfee Mediasound
International Translations
Fabian Skoruppa
Music
Shiyan Shahriar Alamgir
With the friendly support of:
Kreativfonds der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Thüringer Staatskanzlei
Film Data
Running Time: 76 Minutes
Format: 1:1,78 (16:9) / Full HD 25p / 4K Upscale / Colour
Screening Format: DCP, File
Audio Formats: Stereo / 5.1
Languages: Bangla & English
Subtitles: German, English, Spanish, Italian
Production: Germany / Bangladesh – 2020
Contact: mail(at)florian-wehking.de
© Liz Bachhuber & Florian Wehking | 2023
Title
Handmade in Bangladesh
German Board of Film Recommendation
Salma Khatun
Trailer
Festivals & Screenings
Romisa Biswas
Fishermen of Chittagong
Cast & Crew