The World’s Most Dangerous Borders

A good documentary opens it’s audience’s eyes to something new, exposing them to a new world beyond anything they’ve experienced. This is exactly the feat achieved in Reza Pakravan’s (Transamazonica, Timbo) The World’s Most Dangerous Borders, which follows the filmmaker as he “sets off on an epic journey along Africa’s most volatile and dangerous borders,” uncovering many stories along the way.

The adventure-style documentary continually pushes boundaries, making it abundantly clear that to even attempt filming the series was a risk in itself. Often, Pakravan is unable to enter areas, or people are unwilling to help him reach his next destination, yet the footage remains truly enthralling – a powerful and exciting glimpse into life in Africa. The geo-political documentary does not dwell (at least not predominantly) on the poverty that many on the continent face, but instead focuses on telling individual stories, celebrating cultures and bringing awareness to issues such as human trafficking.

The Sahelian Belt makes for a naturally stunningly cinematic backdrop – there are several breathtaking moments of camerawork in the series – but the human moments are the most memorable, particularly the interactions between Pakravan and those he meets on his journey. Naturally endearing, he is clearly not motivated by the idea of getting content for his series, rather by telling a story. He treats everyone he meets with genuine kindness and listens as much as he speaks, often referring to people he has just met as his “friends”.

The World’s Most Dangerous Borders is stellar – the perfect combination of cinematography, drama and exploration. There is nothing contrived or over-edited; everything comes to the audience via the same lens through which Pakravan himself experienced it. The final result is powerful and thought-consuming.

Abbie Grundy

The World’s Most Dangerous Borders is released  on Amazon Prime on 4^th December 2020.

Watch the trailer for The World’s Most Dangerous Borders here: