“The Territory” is a bold, award-winning documentary that bravely reveals the mystery behind the fires in the Amazon rainforest.
In 2019, many believed the destruction of the Amazon rainforest was caused by natural factors, such as dry seasons, and by climate change. However, behind those fires and deforestation were individuals in power—landowners, multinational corporations, and dangerous men with guns—who sought to take the land that had long belonged to the indigenous people of Brazil.
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| Intentional Fires in the Amazon, The Territory, Copyright © National Geographic 2022 |
During his political campaign, the Bolsonaro regime began hate speech against Brazil’s indigenous people: “There won’t be getting one more inch of the indigenous reserve land.” When the populist candidate won the presidency, his government did nothing to protect the land, the natives, the flora and fauna, and the endangered species.
The original story came to light when one of the forest defenders and activists, Neidinha Bandeira, received enough hate mail, death threats, and a kidnapping attempt, and she decided to write an urgent message about her safety and the security of the people in the area to journalists worldwide.
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| Director Alex Pritz, producer Gabriel Uchida & producer Sigrid Dyekjær. Photo by José Alberto Hermosillo. Raleigh Studios, Hollywood. Copyright © Festival in LA, 2022 |
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| Director Alex Pritz, producer Gabriel Uchida. Photo by José Alberto Hermosillo. Raleigh Studios, Hollywood. Copyright © Festival in LA, 2022 |
In New York, director Alex Pritz began a conversation with elderly Indigenous people and, with their permission, documented their lives. Later, he became interested in filming Brazilian natives in their land. Their resilience, courage, and resistance inspired him to take part in the documentary.
Respectful of indigenous cultural identity, Alex Pritz avoided exploiting the natives’ land, culture, or language, recognizing that white settlers had taken so much from them, including their land. White people assumed ownership of the indigenous narrative and traditions.
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| The Territory, Copyright © National Geographic 2022 |
After a furious fire, Neidinha questions the illegal actions of conscienceless individuals and the enormous environmental damage they have caused humanity. She also asks for the Uru-eu-wau-wau people’s safety and wonders how many more must die to protect the rainforest.
Alex Pritz’s discreet camera work is exceptional. His footage spans from tiny insects to aerial shots of the Amazon. He shares cinematography credits with an insider, Tangãi Uru-eu-wau-wau.
Alex Pritz reached out to the Invaders, comparing his personal experience and the white trespassers in Brazil with American colonialism, which often sees itself as heroic without understanding its actions.
It took three years to produce the documentary. The challenges were substantial. The crew had to drive 6 to 12 hours to reach locations, often during the rainy season.
Editor Carlos Rojas structures the film naturally, allowing viewers to follow each character by introducing their struggles and hopes. The transitions are beautiful. However, the visual balance of all storylines needs to be maintained. The unnecessary expository dialogue diminishes the emotional power of this already impactful film.
Katya Mihailova’s music is unforgettable. She radiates positivity, and her lively rhythms build tension during dangerous scenes. To highlight each character’s uniqueness, the composer assigned a distinct score, elevating the sounds of the frontier and rainforest.
Well-known director Darren Aronofsky (“The Whale,” “Black Swan,” “The Wrestler”) also participated, along with Sigrid Dyekjær (“The Cave,” “Food and Country”) and Gabriel Uchida from the outstanding production team, providing full support and control to director Alex Pritz.
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| The Territory, Copyright © National Geographic 2022 |
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| Director Alex Pritz, producer Gabriel Uchida, film critic José Alberto Hermosillo & producer Sigrid Dyekjær. Raleigh Studios, Hollywood. Copyright © Festival in LA, 2022 |
Fans of President Bolsonaro learned about the making of the film and how the documentary empowered the native communities, wanted the filmmakers out of Brazil, and sent death threats to their phones, emails, and homes.
During the three weeks of theatrical release in Brazil, “The Territory” received a strong response from locals, with half of the audience coming from indigenous communities.
“The Territory” is a highly recommended documentary nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, including Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking, Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program, and Outstanding Direction for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program. It is now streaming on Hulu.
The National Geographic/Brazilian co-production won the Audience Award and the Special Jury Award for Best Documentary at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. It also received the Cinema for Peace Award and Best Documentary at the Zurich Film Festival.
The Territory | Official Trailer | National Geographic
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| Director Alex Pritz, producer Gabriel Uchida & film critic José Alberto Hermosillo. Raleigh Studios, Hollywood. Copyright © Festival in LA, 2022 |
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