When tragedy strikes from the skies, the impact reverberates far beyond the immediate site of impact, touching families, local communities, and global populations. Such was the case in March 2019, when a Boeing 737 MAX crashed in Ethiopia just six minutes after taking off from the bustling airport in the country’s capital, Addis Ababa. The catastrophic accident claimed the lives of all 157 people on board, plunging families worldwide into sudden, profound grief and sparking intense international scrutiny regarding aviation safety and corporate accountability.
Among the victims was Max Thabiso Edkins, a loss that pierced the heart of his family. In the wake of the disaster, his older brother, filmmaker Teboho Edkins, embarked on a profound creative and personal journey to process the devastating experience. Collaborating closely with their father, producer Don Edkins, alongside producer Carine Chichkowsky, Teboho directed a deeply personal 38-minute short documentary titled An Open Field.
The film has since garnered critical acclaim, capturing the best short documentary award at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) 2025 following its world premiere. Now, the powerful project is preparing for a wider international rollout, slated to debut globally on Netflix on December 1, bringing a deeply intimate story of loss and resilience to audiences worldwide.
The Discovery of Shared Compassion at the Crash Site
The origin and poetic resonance of the film’s title reveal themselves gradually through the narrative. Upon traveling to the crash site in Ethiopia, the filmmaker uncovers a remarkable act of grassroots solidarity. Immediately following the disaster, dozens of local villagers converged upon the wreckage to offer whatever help they could provide. Their dedication went even further; some residents stood vigil at the location for an entire month, guarding and preserving the sacred area where lives were cut short.
Years after the tragedy, these local community members continue to offer solace, mourning alongside visiting family members, including Teboho Edkins and his father. This profound dynamic transforms An Open Field from a strictly private memoir into an expansive exploration of collective grief, empathy, and human connection.
The film’s synopsis poignantly highlights this juxtaposition, noting that Boeing’s widely criticized response to the crash stands in sharp contrast to the enduring compassion shown by the local community. Described as both a personal essay on loss and an exploration of the potential healing power of collective mourning, the documentary serves as a quiet testament to humanity, capturing moments of warmth, resolve, grief, fear, patience, and simple acts of kindness.
For the filmmaker, the project functions almost as a cinematic bridge, an attempt to connect with the spirit of a departed brother and son. While rooted in a specific, devastating event in East Africa, the themes of the documentary transcend geographical borders. With passengers hailing from more than 30 countries, the tragedy affected a multitude of nations, and the universal burden of losing a loved one speaks to a shared human experience that resonates globally.
Production Background and Global Reach
An Open Field is a collaborative international production bringing together creative forces from South Africa, France, and Germany. The film was produced by Day Zero Film and Video Productions in South Africa, Day Zero Films UG in Germany, and Survivance in France. Behind the lens, cinematographer Jide Akinleminu captured the evocative imagery, while editor Anne Fabini shaped the rhythm of the narrative. The documentary weaves together a striking visual palette of color and black-and-white cinematography, complemented by dialogue spoken in both English and Amharic.
Reflecting on the impending global release, director Teboho Edkins emphasizes the intimate nature of the project and his hopes for its reception by international viewers. He describes the movie as a delicate and personal work addressing themes that are fundamentally tied to the human condition. Expressing gratitude for the platform provided by the streaming giant, Edkins notes that bringing the film to global audiences via Netflix is deeply meaningful, and he hopes elements of the story will resonate with people navigating their own paths through grief and remembrance.
Ahead of the documentary’s official Netflix premiere, the streaming platform and filmmakers have shared an exclusive look at the project, offering audiences a glimpse into the poignant emotional landscape of the work through its official trailer. As An Open Field makes its way to screens around the world, it stands as both a monument to those lost aboard the 2019 flight and a gentle reminder of the enduring capacity for human empathy in the face of unimaginable sorrow.