The story of Not in My Country
Not in My Country follows environmental scientist Peter Tom Jones as he embarks on an investigation into one of Europe's most contentious environmental battles. In 2024, Serbian communities erupted in massive protests against plans to build the continent's largest lithium mine — a project that promised economic development but threatened the region's ecology and way of life. Jones travels to Serbia's Jadar Valley to examine the competing narratives surrounding the proposed mine, the role of multinational corporation Rio Tinto, and the broader question of how we source the materials needed for a climate-conscious future. What emerges isn't a simple story of good versus evil, but rather a complicated web of local resistance, national politics, and the uncomfortable truth that the metals we need to fight climate change come with their own environmental and social costs.
Behind the making of Not in My Country
Director Stijn van Baarle, working from Belgium, crafted this 51-minute documentary with the precision of someone who understands that environmental stories rarely fit neatly into conventional narratives. The film was released in 2024, arriving at a moment when European governments are racing to secure lithium supplies for battery production — a race that's put developing nations like Serbia squarely in the crosshairs of corporate interest. Van Baarle's approach centers on Peter Tom Jones, whose credentials as an environmental scientist lend credibility to the investigation, though his findings prove far more ambiguous than typical advocacy documentaries might suggest. The production doesn't shy away from the disinformation campaigns that've muddied the waters on both sides of the debate. What's striking is how the film refuses easy answers. Instead of portraying Rio Tinto as a cartoon villain or Serbian protesters as uniformly right, Not in My Country traces the actual complexity of a nation caught between environmental protection and economic necessity. The documentary's lean runtime — just 51 minutes — forces disciplined storytelling; every scene earns its place. Movie OTT tracks which streaming platforms carry documentaries like this one, making it easier to find substantive environmental investigations amid the noise.
What makes Not in My Country stand out
Honestly, the film's refusal to provide comfortable conclusions is what makes it worth watching. Most environmental documentaries want you to leave angry at a clear villain. Not in My Country wants you to leave confused — in the best way. The documentary examines how local and national protests have mobilized Serbian communities, yet it also acknowledges the genuine demand for lithium as the world transitions away from fossil fuels. That tension — between climate urgency and environmental protection, between development and preservation — sits at the heart of everything. Jones doesn't lecture. He observes. He asks uncomfortable questions. He visits communities affected by mining operations elsewhere to show what could happen. And he confronts the reality that there's no clean answer to sourcing the materials our clean energy future requires.
What's particularly effective is how van Baarle weaves together the disinformation angle. Both pro-mining and anti-mining sides have deployed misleading narratives, and the film tracks how misinformation has shaped public opinion in Serbia and beyond. It's a reminder that environmental debates aren't won by facts alone — they're won by whoever controls the narrative. The performances, if you can call them that in a documentary context, come from real people with real stakes: local farmers, environmental activists, government officials, and corporate representatives. Their testimonies don't always align neatly, which is precisely the point. Movie OTT aggregates streaming availability across platforms, and documentaries with this level of nuance deserve to find their audience.
Where to stream Not in My Country online
Not in My Country is currently available on Prime Video, where you can stream it as part of your existing subscription. Given its runtime of just 51 minutes, it's the kind of documentary you can watch in a single sitting — perfect for an evening when you want something substantive but not overwhelming. The Where to Watch widget at the top of this page will show you the most current availability across streaming services, since platforms rotate titles regularly. If you're looking for more environmental documentaries and investigative pieces, Movie OTT's streaming guide helps you find similar content across Netflix, Prime, and other major platforms.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Not in My Country?
Belgian director Stijn van Baarle helmed this 2024 documentary, bringing a measured, investigative approach to the Serbian lithium mine controversy.
Q: Where can I watch Not in My Country?
Not in My Country is currently streaming on Prime Video. Check the Where to Watch widget on this page for the latest availability.
Q: Is Not in My Country based on a true story?
Yes — it documents real events. The film investigates actual protests in Serbia against Rio Tinto's planned lithium mine in the Jadar Valley, following environmental scientist Peter Tom Jones as he investigates the situation firsthand.
Q: How long is Not in My Country?
The documentary runs 51 minutes, making it a focused, digestible investigation into the lithium mining debate rather than an exhaustive deep-dive.
Q: What's the IMDb rating for Not in My Country?
The film currently holds a 2/10 rating on IMDb, suggesting it's been polarizing among viewers — though critics' reception and audience reaction don't always align on documentaries dealing with controversial topics.
Final thoughts on Not in My Country
Not in My Country won't make you feel good. It won't give you a hero to root for or a villain to boo. What it will do is complicate your thinking about climate solutions, corporate responsibility, and the cost of progress. If you're tired of documentaries that pretend the world is simpler than it actually is, this 51-minute investigation deserves your attention. It's the kind of film that sticks with you — not because it's flashy, but because it refuses to let you off the hook with easy conclusions. Watch it when you're ready to think harder about the choices we're making in the name of saving the planet.