The Burning Season

"The Burning Season" is a very moving film. It tells the story of real-life Amazon rainforest activist Chico Mendes, who was murdered in the mid-eighties because of his work.

The film shows the life of rubber tappers in Brazil, a trade handed down through generations. Its existence is threatened by rogue cattle barons and other industrial pirates, who want to burn the rainforest to make way for their plans. Mendes and his followers counter the developers with their numbers and their bodies. They adopt a program of civil disobedience, much as Gandhi's followers did in "Gandhi."

Raul Julia gives an impassioned performance as Mendes, with several moments that are breathtaking in their intensity. I heard that he lost thirty or more pounds for this role, and it shows. It is a tragedy that Julia did not live long after filming "The Burning Season" - with this as evidence, there was so much more to him than "Addams Family" re-makes. One can see from the look in Julia's eyes that he is totally locked in during the film.

It's a "true story" but I was left wondering: "Is it "Hollywood true" or "true-true"?" The bad guys are really bad and the good guys are really good.

Although the environmental issues are addressed and resolved were the economic issues ever resolved? I was left hanging. The issue is: it it possible to have environmental friendliness while being able to build a middle class?

There's a nude scene that is nice to look at but left me wondering how it was necessary to further the story.

The film did raise issues to discuss: the company store, liberation theology, the rain forest, non-violent protest and development versus saving the environment.

It is a good Earth Day film to view and then have a discussion. This is especially true for Americans who are the worst polluters in the world and tend to look to the rain forest instead of in their own backyards.

The performances are very good. Be prepared to cry.

While the acting and cinematography were very good, I feel the quality of this movie was much diminished by a completely gratuitous sex scene. I would warn environmental educators or student activists against showing this movie, for there is full frontal nudity that adds absolutely nothing to the plot or character development. The director should be faulted, I believe, for deciding to include this scene, but otherwise the cast and story were engaging and well done. In short, be advised that its "not rated" rating doesn't begin to address the almost pornographic nudity--but still see this movie to learn more about an important environmental activist.

This movie is about more than the destruction of the Amazon Rain Forest in Brazil. It's also about the truimph of people who come together for a worthy cause. The Burning Season does a great job of communicating the passions of all involved. The corporate interests are a little stereotyped. But the movie's focus is on Chico and the lives of the rubber tappers. Their struggle is presented in a believable fashion.