Xingu

We've seen it before. Films detailing the inevitable march of "progress" pushing into indigenous lands and the resulting clash of mainstream and minority cultures with direct and indirect repercussions. This is the premise underlying Xingu and its story of the three Villas-Bôas brothers, who initially looking for a life of adventure, joined a government war-time expedition both exploring and opening up areas of the Amazon forest.

The sub-text of the narrative is that the government wanted uneducated men on the expedition so that they would unquestionably follow instructions. The very well-educated brothers joined the expedition under subterfuge and later, out on the frontiers, their intelligence, humanity and collective initiative served them well as they evolved into successful, accidental intermediaries, between the first contact Indian tribes the expedition met and mainstream Brazilian society and government.

Xingu tries to have its cake and eat it too. It was apparently filmed as a 4 episode TV mini-series, with this 100 minute film released first, as the teaser so to speak. It shows. Xingu is neither fish, nor fowl. As a movie, director Cao Hamburger appears confused over whether he is making a documentary or drama. The result, certainly judged on this version we see, is a dramatic feature, but one almost totally lacking in character development and highlighted by a very confusing timeline of events.

The star of the show is undoubtedly the cinematography. The vistas of the landscapes surrounding the Amazonian tributaries are frequently stunning. But to say the story is lacking in background detail and interest is to drastically understate the situation.

We never really learn anything about the brothers' family and motivations apart from an occasional line of dialogue or narration. They came from a very large family which isn't mentioned. A fourth brother was instrumental in supporting their work but he never appears There is a falling out with one brother and he is sent away. But what that entails is never explained. Later he dies off screen we guess quite a few years later and one brother is almost comical in his grieving, given that the circumstances suggest they were estranged and had had no contact for years. The Indian characters are never developed at all and culturally we aren't shown much about their tribes apart from a couple of dancing scenes. A couple of the brothers appear to have had relationships with a couple of female Indians, but we never know for sure, as apart from some longing looks, there is virtually no dialogue passing between the characters. It's all very enigmatic.

On top of this, there is vey little action, though the film is promoted as an "action adventure". A clash between one armed white settler family and an angry tribe dissolves into black before a spear is thrown in anger. An aeroplane crash and its follow-up consequences for injured and stranded crew requiring rescuing, just ends abruptly before moving on to another scene and is almost antiseptic in its lack of suspense and tension.

As mentioned at the outset, this concept has been explored before. Might I suggest that the interested viewer may well find that a film such as The Emerald Forest, tells a similar story of first contact with an Amazonian tribe facing the same challengers as seen in this film, but with the story told in a far more engaging, exciting, cinematic fashion.

If you get a chance to see this film (especially on the big screen), take it. You will enjoy an amazing story of three brothers who explore some of the rainforests in Amazonian Brazil, and interact with the locals living there in ways that are unexpected. We found the subtitling in Australia to be especially good for most of the film, and certainly had to concentrate on the unfolding story. This story heads off in unusual (but relevant) directions quite frequently, and the effect of this is to wonder what will happen next. The impacts of different tribes of the native peoples, and the "whites" both in the forests and back in the cities make for quite a tense viewing. The only weakness I found was the last 15 minutes or so, when the clarity of the film's story wandered, and I found it a little disjointed. However, this is a fantastic yarn, with a most satisfying (and somewhat ominous) conclusion.

(2011) Xingu (In Portuguese with English subtitles) HISTORICAL DRAMA ADVENTURE

Co-written and directed by Cao Hamburger that takes place during the early 1940's with two brothers of Claudio and Leonardo Villas disguising themselves as simple peasants so that they can be part of an expedition group to travel through Brazil's amazon forest. And it was during at this time, Claudio sends a telegram to his brother, Orlando sitting at an office to come and join them. Together they eventually stumble onto native Indians who were isolated from the rest of the world, after crossing the Xingu River. And at first, the Xingu tribe were frightened of them, until both Claudio and Orlando offered them a well brandished knife as well as other gifts. Resorting to an unlikely friendship between the isolated Xingu tribe and the explorers.

Although, the movie is based on fact regarding the problems with urbanization to a prehistoric tribe, what is not touched so much on is why the President or superiors that once aboriginal land had been discovered by white men that they can do whatever they want or lay claim on land that was already inhabited, I wish it dwell more on the why than to show, how the Villa brothers succeeded into either convincing other tribes to move into the Xingu clan. It would be nice to hear what the other side have to say about the reason why roads and so forth had to be built on territory already inhabitant. I'd love to know more about the tribes.

I am not a fan of foreign language movies but this one is an exeption. Well made movie on all asspects ..... Give it a Go!

Xingu is definitively a great movie. Its storyline is based on the exploration, definition and protection of one of the world's largest indigenous territories. The most relevant aspect, however, is that the movie tells a story about the possibilities of comprehension between two radically different civilizations. The meeting can provoke annihilation through disease and violence, but can also mean enlightenment through cultural exchanges.

The three Villasbôas brothers start their quest as young, urban men who are looking for an adventure in the Brazilian hinterland. Adding to the discovery of natural wonders, they end up finding a cause worth defending. But the challenges are vastly overwhelming.

People will probably find out that the technical aspects of the movie are also very competently handled. Good script, nice photography and a very good camera direction. It's a must see for anyone interested in a great film with an unconventional perspective of a relevant Brazilian historical episode.