Documentary ‘Landfill Harmonic’ Shows How One Man’s Trash Becomes a Community’s Music

A beautiful documentary called “Landfill Harmonic” has finally been finished after years in the making. The documentary, which was filmed in Paraguay, began production back in 2009. After years of raising awareness and money, the film was complete this month, according to the Landfill Harmonic Facebook page.

The documentary follows the musical aspirations of a community in one of the poorest slums in Latin America. In Cateura, Paraguay, the people live on trash and even make a living off of the garbage that is dumped there.  Since instruments are too expensive to buy, they began using the trash to make musical instruments. A garbage picker ‘Cola’ and a musician Favio Chavez worked together to make flutes from pipes, guitars from packing crates, and violins from oil drums. Once they introduced the kids of the area to the recycled instruments, The Recycled Orchestra took form.

Back in the spring of 2013, the project was featured on Kickstarter to raise money to finish the film.  The project ended up raising $214,000 in a month and a half, which surpassed their goal of $175,000.  On the Kickstarter page, the project is described as not just a film but a movement that can bring social transformation to the poorest communities through creativity.

Since the project was able to raise more money then they expected, they were able to finish the film and will be able to send the Recycled Orchestra on tour.  Posted on the Landfill Harmonic’s Facebook page, they hope to have the film released in early 2014 and enter it into film festivals like Sundance. Then, there will be an official 2014 Recycled Orchestra Tour that will include most major U.S. cities.

This documentary where literally one man’s trash is another’s treasure shows the beauty of creativity, music and recycling and its impacts on a community. It proves that no one or thing is useless in this world and communities can find strength from the most unusual places. Check out the Landfill Harmonic website for more information, or visit their Facebook page for future updates and news about the movie release and tour dates!

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