Original subtitles

People have to see to believe.

Some people can’t see, but they can feel.

A blind man could feel something and tell you what it is.

Without seeing it.

Because feeling is a part of life.

Without pain...

...There is no life.

In life, we need pain.

My name is Misja Vos.

I am a lasher.

Before containerships can leave the harbour…

...to transport goods to the other side of the world…

...lashers securely fasten containers…

...with long heavy metal bars and turnbuckles.

I have been working as a lasher for 20 years.

Few can do this job for so long.

Because it is hard work.

It is dangerous work.

But the one who recognizes danger...

...divides his strength well…

...looks around and listens to the surroundings…

...can carry on with this job.

Listen to this old fox.

I don’t know a lasher who would rather do something else.

On all terminals...

...we are among the last who do heavy physical labour.

Surrounded by self-driven vehicles...

...and remotely operated cranes.

Our work will stay as it is.

Our work can’t be automated.

Not yet.

Hi darling.

Hey sweetie.

I’m almost there.

Alright.

Will you be careful?

Always, always.

You promise?

Yes, yes... You know it.

Alright. See you darling.

Yes, I love you, bye bye, sleep well.

I also love you very much.

Bye bye.

Hi man, everything alright?

All good man.

What will we do today?

Boys, listen up. Everything has to be loosened.

2 guys on sixty four. The rest to sixty eight.

Sure thing.

Wajooo Django.

You got another trump?

I had two, man...

...but he trumped mine just now.

I first threw clubs.

I think Shennen wasted it again.

No, I took the last trick, but Django took mine.

Nah, I give it to you brother. I’ll pay you later man.

At 11 I’ll pay you, wait for me at the gas station.

Well played man.

If people ask, what is lashing?

I immediately think of ‘the floor is lava’.

The game in the gym - 'the floor is lava'.

Screaming, running. Beating your pen...

...calling out to the other side: "Are you ready?"

But you have to keep your head straight...

...and work safely.

We all want to get home to our families.

You have to keep your mind clear…

...it’s fucked up today just relax.

If you stay focused everything is easier.

That’s with everything in life…

...not just for fighting or lashing.

You have to focus on the crane above you.

Like my opponent…

...when I’m in the ring I have to stay focused on him.

I feel the same way on the ship.

When I’m lashing I have to look behind me…

...around me, underneath me.

It’s getting the job done with the boys.

Before we go on the gangway, we fool around…

...but on the ship we are serious….

...and work like madmen.

It all depends how you see life.

Life is sharing.

Share and get harmony.

And where the world is going now…

...it’s everybody for themselves.

They ain’t looking at the other person.

So nature put something on us now.

We call it corona virus.

Nature put it on us.

Lashing means stability in my life.

And the roof above my head.

Before this I was homeless.

I had nothing.

I lived in a tent for a couple of months.

I was out for no good.

Everything you shouldn’t do if you want a good life.

That’s why this work is important for me.

If I can’t release my energy, I don’t feel well.

You were born to work.

You weren’t born to sit.

The biggest tragedy...

...for a human being is sitting everyday.

If you don’t move...

...you get sick.

You gotta keep moving.

And that’s where I see life.

In life you gotta keep moving.

You gotta finish your work.

You gotta finish your work and rest.

You gotta work again and rest.

The ship that is now passing, the Tihama.

On the 2nd of December 2019 my best friend Yoshi died on that ship.

It is bizarre that this ship is passing now as we sit here.

I don’t believe in stuff like this… But that it passes right now is special.

He was fastening containers on that ship.

Working on the last containers of the day.

Everybody was already getting off the ship.

He fell through a manhole…

Which turned out to be fatal.

At a certain time Yosh wasn’t doing great.

At one point I said…

...come work with us.

It will be good for you.

It’s hard work, but…

It will be good for you.

Sadly he didn’t have the chance to work a long time.

In fact I am constantly confronted by it.

When you’re on deck…

...I have moments…

...that I look down and I realize…

I can’t escape from it.

That’s difficult.

Yoshi

You got to meditate to see the invisible.

So when I talk about invisible...

I spoke about the spirit.

I connect it with invisible.

I believe in invisible.

Because I am visible.

I am visible.

You could see me.

It is invisible…

...what guides you...

...along the way.