Wild Relatives is an inventive and thought-provoking documentary from filmmaker Jumana Manna. Released in 2017, this engrossing film explores an intersection between global economy, biotech industry, climate change, and local customs which, at first glance, might not seem connected. In essence, Wild Relatives is a cinematic journey that digs deep into the workings of the global seed preservation project, underscoring the socioeconomic and environmental implications of this transcendent yet deeply rooted human endeavor.

Centrally important to the arc of Wild Relatives is the concept of seed banks – facilities aimed at the preservation of agricultural biodiversity by storing varieties of crop seeds. This documentary primarily focuses on two seed banks: one located in the heart of the Arctic – The Global Seed Vault in Svalbard, Norway, standing as an end-of-the-world-style bunker; and another one in the town of Terbol in Lebanon. A fascinating journey between the two seed banks becomes a cross-continental backdrop for Manna’s exploration of various global issues.

The story in Wild Relatives begins after the seed bank located in Aleppo, Syria is compromised due to the Syrian Civil War and its assets are sent to Svalbard for safe keeping. The subsequent relocation and reestablishment of the seed bank from Aleppo to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley sets the film’s narrative in motion.

Manna’s camera navigates between cold Norway and sun-filled Lebanon, from the high-tech doors of the Arctic Vault to the humble beginnings of this major agricultural endeavor in the Middle East, showcasing contrasting environments, unique in their ethos and labor. This juxtaposition offers insights into never-before acknowledged aspects of environmental conservation and the fine balance of interdependence that exists in global systems.

The filmmaker refrains from adopting a conventional documentary narrative. Instead, Wild Relatives presents an array of vignettes through interviews, shots of daily life, and world-impacting events. Told from multiple perspectives, the film addresses bigger questions about our world – ranging from the impact of war, to the socio-economic dynamics of farming, survival, and the environment. Manna’s unadulterated perspective brings an impartial veer to the film, allowing audiences to contemplate the issues presented.

The profound chronicles of the agricultural laborers who plant and harvest seeds offer distinctive perspective on global climate conditions, international economics, the aftermath of war - and all their accompanying societal implications. Manna also delves into the local conflicts between the newcomers and the settled farmers of Beqaa Valley. The director balances these personal, ground-level perspectives against the broader, global implications of their labor.

Wild Relatives stands out in the way Manna balances the gravity of a global environmental initiative with intimate human experiences. Through these contrasts, a conversation about climate preservation, technology, global and local politics, and humanity emerges, offering the viewer a unique, atypical view of our world. By diving deep into the complexities of human ingenuity and resilience, the film transforms from a simple observation of a seed bank-driven process into a broader critique of the human effect on the world's shared environment.

Visually stunning, the film effectively uses its cinematography to convey a sense of natural beauty under threat, while simultaneously showcasing the everyday realities of the people whose lives are tied to the land. From the chilling landscapes of Svalbard to the agricultural fields of the Beqaa Valley, and arduous labor of farmers there, the film offers compelling visual narratives.

Musically, Manna opts to lean into the richness of ambient sounds of each location, allowing the hum of machinery, the rustle of plant life in the wind, and quiet office background noise to create an organic, contemplative soundtrack. This lack of traditional score makes the audience's experience more immersive, reinforcing a sense of realism and presence.

In summary, Wild Relatives is more than an ecological documentary. It is an exposition on the resilience of humankind and nature, and the entwined destinies they share. It puts a spotlight on agricultural practices and their global impact, illustrating how international disasters can disrupt even the most well-intentioned plans. A must-watch for anyone interested in ecology and global systems, the film presents a global perspective on climate change and biodiversity, offering both cautionary and inspiring messages about the future of our planet and its various inhabitants.