'It's mesmerising and, to that extent, forcefully confronts us with the ugliness of industrialisation.' - Times

Under 4.3 million hectares of boreal forest in Canada lies a mixture of sand and crude oil known as the Alberta Tar Sands. As the world's second-largest oil reserve it has become the focus of intensive mining operations.

Peter Mettler's production exposes this remote part of our planet in a dialogueless essay displaying the heights of cinematic craftsmanship. As a viewing experience Petropolis is close to the pick of this year's crop; from the extended aerial sequences, music and minimal text, Mettler's message of a fragile, beautiful planet is loud and clear.

“Beautiful, haunting and vital.” - Toronto International Film Festival