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Life on the border - Human stories from the brink of oblivion
In the extreme southeast of Serbia, in the area covered by the Jerma Special Nature Reserve, live people whose voices are rarely heard, but are precious. The documentary series "Life on the border" was born out of the desire to preserve those voices, to record their everyday life, and to present the problems they face clearly and responsibly to the public and decision makers.
What is "Life on the Border"?
This documentary series, produced by the association Jerma , brings honest and direct interviews with the inhabitants of the villages in the reserve, which administratively belong to three municipalities: Pirot, Dimitrovgrad and Babušnica . Villages that were once full of life, today have barely 30 inhabitants per place , mostly elderly people. In total, the entire area of the reserve has less than 300 people .
Through the series, we document their stories, memories, struggle with everyday challenges, but also a deep connection with the land, culture and nature of this region.
The main problems that are revealed
Although naturally extremely rich, this area is infrastructurally and institutionally neglected:
Road infrastructure is often impassable, especially in winter
Water supply and electricity are not always reliable
Health care is reduced to the arrival of a doctor once a month
Municipal waste is often not taken away, endangering both health and nature
Institutional support is symbolic and disproportionate to needs, although there is the will of individuals in local self-governments
The broader goal of the series
In addition to showing the problems, "Life on the Border" also aims to:
Preservation of memory : through the testimonies of older people, we record part of the oral heritage and identity of this area
Promotion of rural potential : authentic architecture, landscapes, organic resources and cultural features have great potential for sustainable tourism and agriculture
Public advocacy : by showing life in forgotten villages, we want to encourage local and national authorities to become more involved
Tone and approach
The series was recorded discreetly, with respect and closeness . This immediacy gives strength to the stories that talk about survival, silence, solitude, but also love for home, regardless of the conditions.
Why is this important?
By documenting the daily life of the inhabitants of this region, we not only record a disappearing reality, but also point to the ethical responsibility of society not to leave these people aside. Their stories are testimonies - and warnings.
"Life on the border" is not just a documentary series. It's a call to attention. On responsibility. And to a new kind of solidarity - the one that comes with understanding and the desire to return the basics to these people: dignity, living conditions and the feeling that they have not been forgotten.