From Trash to Treasure (2020)

Turning negatives into positives

From Trash to Treasure (2020) poster

In Lesotho—a highland country surrounded by South Africa—an artist named Nthabiseng TeReo Mohanela takes discarded materials and transforms them into unique clothing and accessories. Teaching young people the benefits of recycling and re-creation, she calls her project “From Trash to Treasure.” With TeReo’s work as a starting point, this short film showcases a broader spirit of reimagination among artists in Lesotho, who use creativity to respond to entrenched social problems: Filmmakers show the need to end child marriage. Musicians write songs about climate change. Farmers collect seeds to protect endangered tree species. Designers use fashion to preserve traditional Basotho culture and challenge common perceptions of Africa. Profiling a variety of these innovators, FROM TRASH TO TREASURE: turning negatives into positives encourages us to take lessons from those who rethink, reuse, and reinvent in order to promote positive change.

Director: Iara Lee
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 24 min
Release Date:
Production: Cultures of Resistance Films
Country: Brazil, Bulgaria, United States of America, Lesotho
Original Language: en

Trailer

From Trash to Treasure Trailer
More Films by Director: Iara Lee
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is From Trash to Treasure about?
In Lesotho—a highland country surrounded by South Africa—an artist named Nthabiseng TeReo Mohanela takes discarded materials and transforms them into unique clothing and accessories. Teaching young people the benefits of recycling and re-creation, she calls her project “From Trash to Treasure.” With TeReo’s work as a starting point, this short film showcases a broader spirit of reimagination among artists in Lesotho, who use creativity to respond to entrenched social problems: Filmmakers show the need to end child marriage. Musicians write songs about climate change. Farmers collect seeds to protect endangered tree species. Designers use fashion to preserve traditional Basotho culture and challenge common perceptions of Africa. Profiling a variety of these innovators, FROM TRASH TO TREASURE: turning negatives into positives encourages us to take lessons from those who rethink, reuse, and reinvent in order to promote positive change.
Who directed From Trash to Treasure?
From Trash to Treasure was directed by Iara Lee.
How long is From Trash to Treasure?
From Trash to Treasure has a runtime of 24m (24 minutes).
What genre is From Trash to Treasure?
From Trash to Treasure is a Documentary film.
Where was From Trash to Treasure produced?
From Trash to Treasure was produced in Brazil, Bulgaria, United States of America, Lesotho.