Mine

A journey into the mines provides a visual representation of a journey into the conscience of Kentridges invented character Soho Eckstein the white South African property owner who exploits the resources of land and black human labour which are under his domain Throughout the film the imagery shifts between the geological landscape underground inhabited by innumerable black miners and Sohos world of white luxury above ground When Soho breakfasting in bed pushes down the plunger of his cafetière its movement is transformed into a rapid descent through the tray through the bed and into the mineshaft Here the miners world of overwhelming misery is depicted in claustrophobic tunnels where they are trapped digging drilling and sleeping embedded in rock Above ground Soho sits at his desk in his customary pinstripe suit and punches adding machines and cash registers creating a flow of gold bars exhausted miners blasted landscapes and blocks of uniform housing