As Above, So Below

Shedding light on local and global acts of alchemy, “As Above, So Below” is a deeply personal and thought-provoking reflection on the ephemeral life of material objects. Christman’s intimate documentation of her family’s decision to have her stepfather’s ashes transformed into a memorial diamond frames a larger exploration of the recycling of matter.

The story ranges from Belgium, where precious metals are “mined” from discarded electronics, to New York, where a long-term reclamation project is converting what was once the world’s largest landfill into the city’s second largest public park system. Overturning common conceptions of a disposable culture, this beautifully-composed essay film underscores the vast and unimagined potential lying dormant in our waste.