The 21-part documentary series ‚Worldly Possessions’ shows the variety of family life in our world. It is not the exotic or unusual that is at the heart of these portraits, but rather material possessions and the circumstances of life in various different corners of the world. The films concentrate on something which is not normally considered of importance: everyday life in the microcosm of a family. How do people live on a farm in Mali, in a small town in Greenland or in the slums of Salvador da Bahia? How important is a TV set for a family in Guatemala, how is the workload shared between a husband and wife in Hong Kong?

The families portrayed are the authors of their own stories. There is no commentary in these films. The family members talk of their worries and problems, share their dreams and their definitions of happiness. They offer a very personal insight into their world. In this way we are taken on an unusual journey around the world, a journey which focusses on people’s wishes and needs and thereby confronts us with the question of how we live our lives