A Crack In The Mountain is a feature length documentary film which tells
the story of the world’s largest cave. Hang Son Doong which translates as
“mountain river cave”, is located in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in
Quang Binh Province in Vietnam. The national park is also a UNESCO world
heritage site. First found in 1990 by a local farmer, it wasn’t explored
until 2009 when a British expedition team rigged ropes and descended down.
Many people have described Son Doong as a lost world. It has its own lake,
jungle and even a unique weather system. In 2014 plans were announced to
build a cable car into Son Doong. With many arguing that this would destroy
the cave’s delicate eco-system and the local community divided over the
benefits this development would bring, the film follows those caught up in
the unfolding events. The documentary also uses the narrative as a lens
through which to investigate related themes such as the challenges of
modern day exploration, environmental conservation & sustainability,
and the perils of operating as an activist in a country such as Vietnam
where freedom of speech is severely curtailed.
