The Mine-Seeker

The German TV channel ZDF focuses on the problematic landmine issue.

For a long time the search for debates concerning the landmine issue within the public, as well as private broadcasting sector was in vain. Now the ZDF has taken up the topic and on the 04th April 2011, the „International day of mine education” has reached a large audience with a TV drama starring Christine Neubauer and Hannes Jaenick .

Christine Neubauer plays the role of an engineer and teacher Nina, whose life changed completely after an accident with an anti-personnel landmine during her holiday to Angola and who consequently starts to work as a mine seeker herself. The role of Nina illustrates that the deadly anti-personnel-mine topic, even though it appears to be far away, can be very close indeed – deadly close so to speak.

One has to highly credit Neubauer, who is a voluntary Red Cross ambassador, and the ZDF production team under producer Marcus Rosenmüller for occupying themselves with this topic, especially as with the help of MgM a realistic approach towards the problematic issue has been achieved. During the preparatory stage and during the shoot MgM stood by as a consultant. The protective wear seen in the movie for example had been provided by MgM. Squad leader Ken O’Connell spent a lot of time during the shoot explaining the correct behaviour and the proper movement when handling anti-personnel landmines to the actors. Furthermore MgM was able to encourage some changes to the script in order to achieve a realistic display.

With our support we hope to achieve a higher sensitivity in Germany towards this complicated topic of landmines. Education has always been a major part of our work and we hope that the film has left a sustainable impression on as many of the 4.4 million viewers, who watched it on the 4th April, as possible.