Netflix is adding an impactful, award-winning short film to its library that has piqued interest on the internet over its deeply personal story. It is not the first time the streamer has caught hold of a piece of content that has generated widespread buzz. But this one is different. This one stems not just from the reputation earned from film festivals. But from the shared experience of those who have laid their eyes on the heartbreaking story that the an open field entails.
So, many people are naturally curious as to what an open field is really about.
The touching plot of an open field
The short film, an open field, entails the tragic March 2019 downing of a Boeing 737 MAX shortly after departure from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that claimed the lives of all 157 passengers on board, including Max Thabiso Edkins. In the wake of this devastating loss, his sibling, Teboho Edkins, channeled the family’s profound sorrow and communal mourning into a deeply personal cinematic tribute.
When the unimaginable hits home, finding a way to heal is never easy. That heartbreaking journey is at the heart of the 38-minute film, which follows filmmaker Teboho Edkins and his dad, Don Edkins, as they travel to the Ethiopian site where a tragic plane crash claimed the life of their brother and son.
Instead of just dealing with their grief in isolation, the family ends up finding comfort in the local villagers who live near the site. The residents immediately wrap their arms around the tragedy, treating the passengers like family and showing a deep, cultural warmth for shared mourning. It’s a powerful contrast to the cold, corporate wall put up by Boeing, proving that real human empathy and community support can offer a guiding light through even the darkest moments.
The short film was, very deservedly, celebrated for its unique and unabashedly human approach to grief.
A well-recognized cinematic effort
The 38-minute documentary, an open field, helmed by Teboho Edkins alongside producers Don Edkins and Carine Chichkowsky, is recognized by esteemed institutions and film experts for how it deals with loss and its aftermath in a relatively short time. Following its debut and subsequent victory for best short documentary at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in late 2025, the acclaimed project is expanding its international footprint with a scheduled Netflix debut on December 1.
A truly international creative collaboration, this poignant documentary bridges multiple borders through the joint efforts of production houses Day Zero Film and Video Productions out of South Africa, Germany’s Day Zero Films UG, and France’s Survivance. Behind the lens, cinematographer Jide Akinleminu captures the emotional landscape through a striking visual palette that blends full-color sequences with stark black-and-white photography, while editor Anne Fabini shapes the narrative flow. Linguistically, the film mirrors its cross-cultural roots, weaving together conversations and reflections in both English and Amharic.
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