A Dream of the Earth
“A Dream of the Earth: Cultivating Community in Hawaiian Soil” is a documentary set on Hawai’i’s Hamakua Coast, where the Rainbow Bridge community embarks on a journey to create a sustainable paradise. Without prior planning, a group of individuals becomes stewards of a large farm, transforming an unexpected responsibility into a profound experience of connection—with the land, each other, and the concept of community.
Amid the lush Hawaiian landscape, the film explores themes of ecological stewardship, communal living, and raising children in a village setting. It follows the community’s efforts to build their farm and infrastructure, highlighting the challenges of financial strain and physical labor. Through resilience and shared purpose, they discover triumphs in nurturing relationships, growing nutrient-rich food, and fostering a deeper bond with the earth.
“A Dream of the Earth” celebrates the possibilities of harmony and abundance when people come together with a shared vision. It invites viewers to reflect on a lifestyle that prioritizes sustainability, unity, and well-being, offering a hopeful glimpse into the transformative power of community.
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Marcial SommerDirector
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Marcial SommerWriter
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Marcial SommerProducer
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Project Type:Documentary
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Runtime:31 minutes 45 seconds
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Completion Date:January 15, 2025
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Production Budget:5,000 USD
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Country of Origin:Switzerland
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
Since 2016, Marcial Sommer has been drawn to the craft of storytelling through photography and filmmaking. He fell in love with the process—the privilege of freezing time, capturing unique and inspiring stories for others to experience. His passion for storytelling has led him to specialize in documentaries, where he strives to bring meaningful narratives to life. Over the years, Marcial has had the privilege of embarking on various projects that have taken him across the globe, allowing him to refine his craft and connect with diverse perspectives.
Away from the camera, Marcial finds joy and inspiration in outdoor sports, particularly climbing, highlining, and most recently, paragliding. There’s an undeniable beauty in scaling vertical cliffs, walking a thin line suspended hundreds of meters above the ground, or soaring through the skies. These experiences invigorate his spirit and deeply inform his artistic vision, offering him fresh perspectives and a sense of awe that he carries into his storytelling.
When I was invited to document the unfolding story of the Rainbow Bridge community on the Hamakua Coast of Hawai'i, I was immediately intrigued. The opportunity to capture the essence of a developing sustainable community was irresistible. In early March 2023, my partner Kayla and I traveled from our home in Switzerland to immerse ourselves in their world, staying for two transformative months.
From the outset, it was crucial for me not to be just an observer, but an active participant. I believed that to truly understand and depict the heart of Rainbow Bridge, I needed to integrate fully into the community. Kayla became a part of the community as well, sharing in the daily challenges and joys. This immersive approach allowed me to experience the rhythm of their lives, the struggles of building infrastructure, and the profound connections they were forming with each other and the land.
Only after becoming a part of their world did I begin filming and conducting interviews. This method ensured that the authenticity of their experiences was captured, revealing the genuine spirit of the community and the raw beauty of their collective journey. My goal was to convey not just the physical aspects of their work but the deep emotional and philosophical underpinnings of their lifestyle.
"A Dream of the Earth: Cultivating Community in Hawaiian Soil" is more than a documentary; it is a heartfelt reflection of a community in its nascent stages, striving to create a sustainable and harmonious way of life. Through this film, I hope to inspire others to consider the possibilities of communal living and to appreciate the profound connections that can be forged when people come together with a shared vision.