Descent into the Red Earth

Early morning; a thin mist hangs low over the countryside. Sunlight filters dimly through the trees, creating soft yet high-contrast rays of light. The distant sounds of nature—a crowing rooster, a light breeze—are gradually replaced by the rhythmic clinking of metal from the direction of the mine. Footsteps feel heavy on the wet earth. The camera moves downward, following a narrow path toward a mine opening on the slope. Every step is slightly unsteady. The red soil is damp, tree roots protrude, and stones are slick. On either side, the excavated earth forms uneven walls—coarse, fragile, and deep.