Belgian director Jérôme le Maire’s documentary, "The Price of the Sun" (Du soleil et du plomb), is poised to make its world premiere on Saturday, April 18, in the international feature film competition program of the 57th edition of the Visions du Réel documentary festival in Nyon, Switzerland. The film offers a piercing look into the complexities and often-overlooked human costs associated with Morocco’s ambitious drive to become a global leader in renewable energy. While the construction of what is hailed as the world’s largest solar power plant aims to transform arid landscapes into a vibrant "green energy source," le Maire’s work unveils a more intricate narrative, highlighting the profound impact on the local indigenous Berber tribe, the Ait Merghrad nomads, and challenging conventional notions of sustainable progress.
Morocco’s Green Ambitions and the Noor Ouarzazate Complex
Morocco has positioned itself as a vanguard in the global renewable energy transition, leveraging its vast desert expanses and abundant sunshine to develop monumental solar projects. Central to this strategy is the Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex, a flagship initiative designed to supply clean energy to millions and reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. Inaugurated in phases since 2016, the complex, particularly its Noor Ouarzazate I, II, III, and IV plants, boasts an impressive installed capacity, with the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology at its core. CSP plants use mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto receivers, heating a fluid that then drives a steam turbine to generate electricity. This innovative approach, while promising significant environmental benefits, also comes with substantial land and water requirements.
The Moroccan government has set an ambitious target of generating 52% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, a goal that places it among the most forward-thinking nations in climate action. Projects like Noor Ouarzazate are not merely about domestic energy security; they are also integral to Morocco’s vision of becoming a key exporter of green energy to Europe, potentially linking the African continent to European grids via underwater cables. This grand strategy is often presented as a win-win: economic development for Morocco, a cleaner planet for all. However, as "The Price of the Sun" meticulously documents, the narrative of unadulterated progress often obscures a more complex reality on the ground.
The Unseen Costs: Impact on Indigenous Communities
The documentary sharply focuses on the indigenous Ait Merghrad Berber tribe, a nomadic community whose traditional way of life has been inextricably linked to the desert environment for centuries. For these nomads, vast, open lands are not merely empty spaces but vital pastures, seasonal migratory routes, and sources of sustenance. The construction of the massive solar plant, with its sprawling arrays of mirrors and extensive infrastructure, has necessitated the erection of barriers and fences, effectively fragmenting their ancestral territories and disrupting their ancient migratory patterns.
Furthermore, the operation of CSP technology, while green in its energy output, is highly water-intensive. The cooling systems and mirror cleaning processes require significant volumes of water in an already arid region. This increased demand for water exacerb often leads to reduced access for local communities, impacting their livestock and agricultural practices, which are the bedrock of their economy and culture. The film reveals a troubling consequence of this disruption: members of the Ait Merghrad tribe are left with "no choice but to work for the power plant." This forced shift from a self-sufficient, traditional nomadic existence to wage labor for an industrial complex represents a profound cultural imposition and an involuntary reinvention of identity. It highlights a critical paradox: a project designed to offer a sustainable future inadvertently undermines the sustainability of an indigenous way of life.
Jérôme le Maire’s Vision: Unveiling the Ambiguities
Director Jérôme le Maire, known for his incisive documentaries such as "Burning Out" and "Tea or Electricity," employs a cinema vérité style to delve into the "ambiguities and hidden costs of progress." His work is characterized by "precise and intimate observation" of communities facing transformative events. In "The Price of the Sun," he captures "the resilience and adaptability of a community forced to reinvent itself in the shadow of the renewable energy revolution." The press notes for the documentary starkly highlight the irony: "Ironically, the fight for resource control to connect the world may ultimately destroy a society that, by definition, shares resources and is obliged to be connected." This core tension — between global energy demands and local ecological and social fabric — forms the thematic heart of the film.
Le Maire’s directorial approach is deeply immersive, seeking to connect the audience intimately with the experiences of those on screen. He consciously avoids a prescriptive voice-over, allowing viewers to "navigate the narrative" and "form a bond with a particular character," thereby encouraging them to "think whatever they like about what is happening." This method, characteristic of direct cinema, aims to foster empathy and enable audiences to "put themselves in the other person’s shoes – and thus, perhaps, shift their perspective away from the dominant narrative." It’s a powerful tool for revealing the nuanced realities behind headlines of "green progress."
An Eight-Year Journey: Building Trust in the Desert
The making of "The Price of the Sun" was an arduous, eight-year undertaking, stretching from initial scouting in 2017 to the final shoot in September 2025. This extensive timeline underscores le Maire’s commitment to his observational methodology and the painstaking process of building trust. The production involved approximately 168 shooting days spread across 12 two-week stays from January 2019 to September 2025. Prior to this, a year-long investigation around the Noor Ouarzazate plant in 2017, followed by four two-week stays in 2018, were dedicated to getting to know the Ait Merghrad community and exploring the region around the future Midelt plant site.
Le Maire explained his approach to gaining access: "The secret to making this kind of film is to take your time. To take the time to introduce yourself. Who am I, and what am I doing in this region? What can I do for you? Before I say what I want to film, I listen to what these people have to say, where their words come from." He emphasized offering an "exchange," sharing personal details by bringing his wife and daughter to the desert. This genuine human connection resonated with the nomads, who, as le Maire noted, "quickly realized that what interested me was less the power station itself than the ecosystem in which it was to be built." Their appreciation for an "outsider" taking an interest in their lives, amidst looming turmoil, was crucial for securing their cooperation.
Gaining access to the plant’s management and government officials required a different strategy. Le Maire relied on "credentials," showcasing his previous successful films and leveraging "connections in high places." Yet, even in formal settings, he found that "you find yourself face to face with a human being, and at that point, you have to be yourself and clearly show who you are. Face to face, I don’t put on an act. I connect with the person and speak to them very sincerely." This directness, he observed, was often unexpected in high society and proved effective. A notable instance involved meeting Morocco’s Minister for Energy Transition, where le Maire’s frankness led to a plan for the minister to visit the nomads – a plan that, regrettably, did not materialize but underscored the potential for bridging divides through honest dialogue.
The Philosophical Dimension of "Clean" Energy
A central tenet of "The Price of the Sun" is its direct challenge to the popular perception of "clean energy." Le Maire argues that "clean energy does not exist. It is sold to us as such so that we consume ever more, without a twinge of conscience." This provocative statement aims to dismantle the illusion that renewable sources inherently absolve consumers of their environmental impact. While solar and wind power mitigate carbon emissions, their lifecycle — from resource extraction for components, manufacturing, transport, construction, operation (including water use), to eventual decommissioning and waste management — all carry environmental footprints and often socio-economic costs.
The film implores audiences to consider the "invisible people and businesses affected by their energy consumption." Le Maire draws a direct line from everyday actions — using artificial intelligence, charging an electric car, or simply flicking a light switch — to the lives of people like the Ait Merghrad nomads. "It is not about guilt, but about awareness and responsibility!" he asserts. His ultimate message is a call for reduced consumption, both at individual and public levels, as "the only lever that guarantees 100 percent positive effects for the planet and the common good." This perspective resonates with growing discussions around "just transition" frameworks, which seek to ensure that the shift to a green economy does not disproportionately burden vulnerable communities, and the need to address the "rebound effect" where increased energy efficiency leads to greater overall consumption due to lower perceived costs.
Challenges Behind the Lens: Filming in Hazardous Environments
Among the most challenging aspects of filming, le Maire recounted the intense experience of documenting lead mining operations. These unsupervised mines are "extremely dangerous," with "accidents common" among the "few dozen poor people who have taken it upon themselves to work as miners." Lacking equipment and formal training, these individuals rely solely on their courage and mutual solidarity. The inherent risks meant that le Maire’s sound engineer and assistant director (his daughter) opted not to descend into the mines.
Undeterred, le Maire went down alone with the miners, forging a profound connection. "These were intense moments because at that point, I was completely united with them. We helped each other; we each had a goal, but the path we were taking was the same." The resulting scenes, depicting the arduous and perilous extraction of lead, are described as visually flawless and deeply moving. He recalled witnessing Aziz, "just a few months earlier… still a shepherd," now "hammering away like a madman to extract lead from the rock," expressing a sincere hope that the film could "help improve his situation!" This segment of the film serves as a powerful microcosm of the desperate circumstances that can drive individuals from traditional livelihoods into dangerous, informal labor in the face of broader economic and environmental shifts.
Visions du Réel Premiere and Broader Implications
The world premiere of "The Price of the Sun" at Visions du Réel is significant. The festival, renowned for its commitment to showcasing innovative and socially relevant documentary cinema, provides an international platform for critical discourse. Its selection in the competitive program highlights the film’s artistic merit and its urgent thematic relevance. The documentary is expected to ignite conversations among filmmakers, environmentalists, policymakers, and the general public about the true cost of the global energy transition. It prompts crucial questions about ethical sourcing, indigenous rights, and the equitable distribution of benefits and burdens in the pursuit of a sustainable future.
The film’s exploration of "cultural ambiguities of renewable energy" comes at a time when nations worldwide are grappling with the practicalities of implementing large-scale green projects. It serves as a potent reminder that technological solutions must be accompanied by robust social and environmental safeguards to prevent new forms of injustice or "green colonialism," where developed nations’ energy demands dictate land use and livelihoods in developing regions.
Looking Ahead: The Director’s Next Chapter and the Future of Energy
Following the culmination of an eight-year cinematic journey, Jérôme le Maire is embarking on a deeply personal and physically demanding project. "I’m currently working on a very different project: I’d like to cross the High Atlas mountains in Morocco all alone, on foot, with a mule!" This expedition, anticipated to last several months, is envisioned as a period of profound reflection and disconnection from the "fast-paced, talkative world… and from this culture of overconsumption!"
Le Maire’s desire to "recharge my batteries" and "reflect on the meaning of life" echoes the film’s core message about re-evaluating societal values and consumption patterns. His plan to traverse "a thousand kilometers along this magnificent mountain range, dotted with little villages that seem to exist in another world, in another time," suggests a continued quest for authentic experiences and alternative modes of existence. He muses, "Perhaps I’ll take a camera with me and end up making a film…," indicating that his personal journey of contemplation may well translate into another powerful cinematic exploration of human connection to nature and the profound questions of modern life. "The Price of the Sun" leaves audiences not only with a vivid portrayal of a community in transition but also with a compelling invitation to critically examine their own role in the global energy landscape and the imperative for a more conscious and equitable future.
