The Lost Children

This is a story about the rescue operation for the Colombian children how got lost after the plane crash in the Amazone forest.

But it tells another relevant story, the story of the indigenous people. And how they were treated for decades. A story about how unbelievable and important their knowledge of the jungle is. And that is would be impossible to find the children without that knowledge.

It even raises the question if the children wanted to be found by the soldiers who were looking for them, because of the past and because of themselves being indigenous.

This is a relevant documentary which shows you how important it is to keep our bond with nature and that true knowledge goes so much deeper than the knowledge we have in our western society and which we think is superior, because it is not.

Go see it!

Directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, Lali Houghton, and Jorge Duran, "The Lost Children" is a powerful and moving documentary that follows the harrowing experience of four young siblings who become lost in the vast and treacherous Amazon rainforest after a tragic plane crash. The film not only highlights the physical trials faced by the Mucutuy children but also explores the emotional and psychological impacts of their struggle.

The documentary begins with a concise introduction to the Mucutuy family, setting the context for their ill-fated journey from their isolated home near Araracuara to San José del Guaviare. The filmmakers expertly blend archival footage, interviews, and dramatic reenactments to craft a compelling narrative that draws viewers into a world divided yet united in the quest to save these young lives. Initially, the Indigenous people of the forest, who formed the rescue teams, did not collaborate with the army soldiers, leading to separate search efforts. However, as the weeks passed and the urgency to find the children intensified, both groups began to support one another, ultimately forging friendships. This search operation, dubbed Operation Hope, unexpectedly united the people of Colombia, showcasing a historic collaboration between soldiers and Indigenous communities that led to successful outcomes.

The directors have skillfully balanced the documentary's emotional depth with moments of lightness and warmth, while also addressing broader themes of loss, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit, resulting in a profoundly impactful viewing experience.

This is not a regular documentary. Coming from Colombia, the undertones of decades of mistrust and lack of communication between the indigenous population and the "whites" is the actual driving force of the story.

The focus on the searchers and their conflicts (internal and external) makes this a piece of great storytelling.

There is a book about the event that speaks a lot about the beliefs of the indigenous on the creatures of the jungle and how those beliefs affected (positively?) the search.

It is a great story of different perspectives and views needed to solve a problem.

See it with open eyes, not thinking it is a Rambo-type movie. It is not.

This movie was more interesting than I expected mainly because of its slick production and storytelling. The cinematography was superb, especially the jungle close ups and the beautifully lit interiors of the indigenous homes.

The story of the rescue was interesting in itself but was made more so by the slow revelation of earlier troubles in the family and the inclusion of a subplot about the tensions amongst the rescuers. The latter explored the interesting history of the troubled relationship between the indigenous population and the military. The filmmakers cleverly wove these different elements together in a way that kept me interested throughout.

I particularly liked the sequence towards the end where the eldest child recounts her experience of being lost in the jungle through a voice over and her delightful drawings. I found that quite moving.

Even if the story itself doesn't hold a lot of interest to you, the production and story-telling might. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I loved how in this doco, a lot of issue were addressed from the accident to the ongoing problems in Colombia. The fact the the indigenous people and the Colombian army were working together was amazing. I'm so so happy the forth children are alive and together. I only hope the best of best for them. My heart roots for them. And thank you so much for everyone that was part of this amazing operation hope. I wish all the was issue of my country will one day cease. I hope for the vulnerable communities, to be safe, to be protected and helped in every way possible. As someone mentioned in the doco, we all have indigenous blood in our body. We need to care and helps each other.