Nordisk Panorama 2025: Only on Earth (dir. Robin Petré) | Review
With poetic restraint and visceral force, Only on Earth captures a land on the brink, where fire, dust, and dwindling herds trace the contours of a story of survival.
In her new feature-length documentary, Only on Earth, Danish filmmaker Robin Petré immerses us in the arid landscapes of northwestern Spain, where humans and animals alike struggle to survive increasingly devastating wildfires.
For several decades, Galicia has seen its landscapes gradually turn to desert, a consequence of increasingly scarce rainfall. Natural methods of fire control — either little known or abandoned in favor of more profitable land use — are no longer sufficient to prevent the spread of wildfires. In particular, the region once hosted a significant population of semi-wild horses, which graze on the highly flammable shrubs and help clear the dry land. In recent years, however, their numbers have drastically declined due to the exploitation of lands that once formed their natural habitat.
The suffocating, inhospitable atmosphere is palpable throughout the film, thanks to the particularly expressive style adopted by the filmmaker, who captures the elements up close: ochre earth stirred by horses, and fire consuming everything in its path. The meticulously composed static shots invite viewers to grasp the extent of the ecosystem’s decline.
Yet Only on Earth conveys a note of hope in the capacity of local residents — whose concern grows year by year — to come together and support one another, some even joining firefighting squads to battle the scorching flames. Their desire to preserve their habitat, coupled with strong community bonds, drives them to restore a measure of balance to their region.
The documentary premiered in 2025 at the Berlinale before winning the Best Nordic Documentary Award at Nordisk Panorama.
