Amazon Forever

My name is Nicolas,

and that's me with my bow and arrows.

I'm about 11 years old.

We spend a happy childhood in a beautiful countryside

a world away from the Amazon.

In my little head, I already ask myself the usual questions.

Who am I? Is there a destiny?

And if there is one, what is mine?

That's my brother.

My father panics, gives me his camera.

This is how I start to film.

Later the camera becomes my life,

my weapon, and also my instrument to answer all these questions.

Don't worry. He's just kidding!

Is there another reality?

Another life at the end of the world?

Like I read in my Tintin albums and my atlas.

Can my destiny be written in my dreams?

Where do dreams come from?

My name is Ayupu.

When this story takes place, life is still good.

We live in the forest,

with no worries, no money.

We don't need it.

I'm already very concerned with the loggers destroying our forest.

But the young were more interested in the "meaning of life."

I like Tapi's ass. It's so firm!

I like his front as well.

Who do you like, Luacema?

I don't know yet!

My son Tapi and his friend Tonoli

were busy studying the secrets of the forest.

Tonoli's is bigger than Tapi's.

Tapi says size doesn't matter!

Tapi, I think Luacema likes you.

I knew our days were counted.

I was waiting for a sign...

I asked the spirit for a man, not a kid!

Move away. It's forbidden to land here.

I don't speak Portuguese.

We're going to have fun with these two.

You can take all.

He's cute, no?

I think he likes you.

Hello! Come to the center.

Let's see what gifts they bring us.

Is that it?

Fishing stuff!

They must be kidding! This is ridiculous!

Who do you think we are?

What did you want?

A television!

What language was that?

No idea. I've never heard anything like it!

Do you understand?

Something about filming the Kuarup, I guess.

Oh! That's fine.

Is he allowed to film?

Yes, Ayupu authorized them.

That's fine then.

The first day, of the kuarup ceremony,

the dead, buried in the center of the village,

reincarnate in the sacred logs.

Aren't we all children of the tree, of mother earth?

At last, my dream comes true.

Relatives decorate the logs with the belongings of the dead.

His son, died off malaria,

his father, of old age.

I'm in communion, but I don't understand a thing.

Sadness and despair overwhelming,

I feel the spirits.

Inside the belly of Mother Earth,

I sense a different notion of time,

other values,

animal instinct,

but I know nothing of their customs.

Can I even look at her?

And then, there's Tapi,

who never stops watching me.

My god, she's so beautiful!

The second day of the Kuarup,

other tribes arrive for the wrestling competition,

but also for the final exorcism.

The spirits rise from the dead.

The earth is shaking.

The magical ritual must succeed.

It's now or never, time expands.

The spirits must fly to the sky, the final destination!

The dream is awake,

I must follow it without asking questions.

I was just on the radio...

the airport in Brasilia is still closed,

bad weather.

They expect to come tomorrow, maybe.

It's been 3 days already, Roberto.

I know, you don't have to tell me.

Our only hope is that Ayupu can save him.

He's really handsome.

Look, his is bigger than Tapi's.

That's all you think about?

What else? We don't have the television yet!

My god!

Yes, of course.

He thinks he's an Indian now!

Manioc juice!

Piranha pancake!

That hasn't happened in a long time.

She also learns to raise children, sing and dance...

Take care of her husband.

Was I good?

Very good!

Go away, gringo!

Keep moving. Don't stop!

Keep sawing!

Tear it all down!

Stop!

STOP!

I came back, of course.

Children of the tree, feel in your flesh the mutilated corpses drifting to the logging plants.

What a waste! The spectacular vanity of progress

destroys the rain forest without a trace.

The Indians, the last human shields to protect it, never asked for anything.

My destiny entwines with theirs, ineluctably.

I knew you would come back!

Is that a television?

Do you have a permit this time?

This is our land. You're not even from here.

Juste take care of the post, and don't tell us what to do.

Go to hell!

I'll keep the passport then! You'll see what happens!

Luacema is still in seclusion.

We don't write.

That's why your work is important to us.

Future generations will remember how we lived.

Thanks a lot, Ayupu.

Nicolas, the monkeys are worried like I am

about the destruction of our forest.

Go and see for yourself.

It's not far.

Senseless industrial society,

you can't survive without devouring your own entrails.

I choose my side, the side of life.

The loggers are inside our reservation!

We must attack now and kill them!

I hear you. Calm down.

We must go there, talk to them,

make them understand that they're wrong.

If they don't listen,

then we'll go to war.

Gromac wants to see Nicolas at the post.

Come with us then. Bring your camera.

Rain forest, cradle of biodiversity,

marvel of ingenuity, new species,

magical nature that we pollute and destroy as fast as we can.

The river bends, like those of my destiny,

lead to unavoidable confrontation.

Dead trees, like sentinels overlooking, guarding the killing fields

of the world's largest rain forest.

Let's go to the other side, talk to their chief!

Now play!

Don't look at me, you stupid idiot.

You're destroying our forest.

This is our land.

You must leave.

What did he say?

Leave now.

It took him so long just to say that?

Stay right there!

What's your name, chief?

We're only doing our job.

I also have a family to feed.

I'm not your enemy.

I want to be your friend.

You're not my friend!

Wait, chief.

I can buy many things for you.

You want a new engine for your canoe?

Money, do you want money?

Who's this guy?

Come here!

Put your camera down!

Put it down!

This gringo is trouble.

Take it easy, mister Ferra!

This is my last warning. Leave, and never come back.

Or we'll kill you all!

Don't go, chief. Let us be friends!

I'll get you!

Get off, assholes!

Don't look at them! Or we'll have to fight.

Look, there's a white man with them!