This was my second time collaborating on a feature with director Yaara Bou Melhem, and once again it was a deeply meaningful experience. The film follows the final days of a man who, despite being terminally ill with mesothelioma, fought to hold those responsible for the asbestos contamination of his homeland accountable. His story — both deeply personal and politically charged — gave us incredibly powerful material that asked for care and honesty in the edit.

Working with footage of someone who had already passed was emotional and humbling. Every cut felt like a small way to honor his life and his fight. It wasn’t always easy to balance the intimacy of his story with the bigger environmental battle, but knowing that the film’s impact campaign could help push for real change in Wittenoom’s cleanup effort made it all worth it. Collaborating on this project reaffirmed my belief in the potential of documentary filmmaking to amplify voices and catalyze real-world outcomes.

Francisco Forbes, Editor