Behind the scenes
The filmmaker Frederik Subei spent a total of six months living with the Guajajara people and accompanied them in their daily life. The close relationship to the protagonists made it possible to tell their story in a respectful way, including their own footage to give them a direct voice in the film. Apart from a crowd funding campaign, the whole filming period was self-financed on a shoestring budget and shot by one person, in parts with an assistant.
Many Guajajara traditions and knowledge have been eroded since contact was made with the European settlers. But some are still alive and even re-established, like the initiation of young girls into adulthood. The Guajajara language is teached in schools and unlike other indigenous languages well maintained. Picking honey or the famous Brazilian Acai berries has become a rare pleasure. Also hunting is nowadays virtually impossible in most parts because of deforestation.
Transportation is difficult within the indigenous territory. The dirt roads are difficult, if not impossible to drive with a car. Most places can only be reached by foot or motorbike. Sometimes even a bridge has to be improvised to cross the water. Most people can't afford a vehicle and only occasionally leave their village to buy groceries in small towns outside the indigenous territory. For the forest guardians these trips are dangerous. Most assisinations happened in these places.
