The Price of the Sun

Synopsis

For centuries, a nomadic Berber community has lived by grazing herds across Morocco’s desert plateau. Then come workers in yellow vests, followed by trucks, heavy machinery, and massive power plants. The construction of one of the world’s largest renewable energy facilities on their land upends the entire existence of Berbers. Fences cut across traditional migration routes, water becomes scarce. The community is forced to sell off their livestock, and settles down, with some members turning to work in local mines. The film confronts the hidden cost of the energy transition, framed as a climate solution: while meeting widespread energy demands, who answers for those losing their land, water, and way of life?

Director Biography

Jérôme le Maire

Belgian director, screenwriter, and cinematographer born in Liège in 1969. After studying Journalism at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Jérôme le Maire trained in filmmaking at the Institut des Arts de Diffusion. His documentaries have won two Magritte Awards for Best Documentary and received two consecutive nominations at the European Film Awards. Le Thé ou l'Électricité (2012) won around thirty international prizes. His latest documentary, Du Soleil et du Plomb (2026), was selected for the International Competition at Visions du Réel.

Credits

Cinematography / Sinematografi

Olivier Boonjing, Jerôme le Maire

Editing / Kurgu

Matyas Veress

Music / Müzik

Ruben De Gheselle

Sound / Ses

Jean-Luc Fichefet, Olivier Ronval, Mariette Mathieu-Goudier, Olivier Pelletier, Youssef Douazou, Paulin Amato

Production / Yapım

Hanne Phlypo, Isabelle Truc, Camille Laemlé, Alami Khadija