Impossible Roads

In Chad, even the desert is experiencing flooding on an unprecedented scale. More than a million people are affected by rising waters. Hundreds of thousands of hectares of fields have disappeared, a tragedy in a country where a third of the population is food insecure. In the south, although rich in oil, each trip is an epic for the local populations who do not benefit from the benefits of black gold. Norbert and Souleymane exhaust themselves every week on a broken track to supply the surrounding markets. In the Salamat region, transporting people is a daily challenge. The raging waters have washed away parts of the road, and in places, the track is submerged for hundreds of meters.

The Central American country of Guatemala is going through a never-ending economic crisis. Urban or rural, all populations are affected and rely on their courage or the Mayan gods they worship. Anthony, 18, a taxi driver, transports his clients to the mountains aboard a tuk-tuk. Tomas, a shaman, and Eric, his disciple, go on a pilgrimage towards a Mayan city that is very difficult to access. Hugo goes shark hunting for the first time. Finally, Maria Rosa and her children live near a landfill, which they try to take advantage of to go to Mexico, the beginning of the American dream.

Sumatra is the sixth largest island in the world. To travel in this territory of 60 million inhabitants lacking reliable infrastructure, some workers are forced to resort to archaic means. So, Masinis cobbled together his own motor wagon to use the old railway line. The pitiful state of the rails forces him to take great risks. But without it, farmers, villagers and gold prospectors would find themselves very destitute. For his part, Rudi must also face many dangers at the wheel of his minibus.

Kenya is developing at full speed thanks to its agriculture and tourism, but is struggling to catch up in terms of road infrastructure. The country is split in two because of climate change. In the north, entire regions are suffering from profound drought, while in the south, populations find themselves threatened by rising water levels. Daily life requires courage from its inhabitants. Adam transports fish from Lake Victoria to Mbita on rutted tracks. In the Turkana region, David, a taxi driver, never hits the road with fewer than 15 customers for 8 seats!