19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One Man's Ecological Odyssey, September 9, 2000
Originally airing on HBO, "The Burning Season" stars the late Raul Julia as Chico Mendes, the founder of Brazil's ecological movement to preserve and save the Amazon rainforest from the destruction by herders, miners, and other companies wanting to exploit the region's rich natural supplies.
Mendes, who led a movement from the small frontier town of Acre, became an international celebrity after he went on Brazilian television to fight the destruction of the Amazonian Rainforest. With the ban on Argentine beef, Brazilian farmers saw the Amazon as being an emerging area to raise cattle in order to meet the world demand for beef. Miners, who were moving onto Indian lands to mine for gold, copper, and other minerals were also effecting the rainforest's ecology.
Mendes, who was a "seringuiero," or "rubber-tapper," relied on the Amazon's vast supply of rubber trees in order to make a living. Seeing that his source of income was in peril with the elimination of trees in order to make room for miners and farmers, Mendes began a national movement to awaken the consciousness of the world about the obvious dangers that lurked nearby if the rainforest was cleared. However, his life will take a tragic turn when he was only starting to gain international awareness and support for his movement.
Puerto-Rican born actor Raul Julia, gives on of the final performances of his gifted life as Chico Mendes. Brazilian actress Sonia Braga also lends her talents to this important film that was filmed in Mexico's Yucatan region. Both actors, as well as the film's realism add depth and realism to a film that should be watched by all, especially when recent news indicate that the world's sea levels are rising due to global warming.
This is a must-see film for everyone. Chico Mendes' mission to educate the world of the immense importance that Brazil's rainforest is to world's climate control should not die in vain. This important, ethical film will awaken your awareness of what the Amazon's destruction and development will have on the world's population
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Life of Chico Mendez, April 11, 2001
This review is from: The Burning Season - The Chico Mendes Story [VHS] (VHS Tape)
The Burning Season is a wonderful film about the life and struggles of Chico Mendez. Chico (played by Raul Julia) fought his entire life to save the Amazon from ranchers and miners that wanted to cut it down. He lived a very peaceful life in Brazil as a seringueiro or rubber tapper until the cattle ranchers and miners took over his land and destroyed it. Mendez was a pioneer for the start of many efforts to save the rain forests. Unfortunately, his efforts were cut short when the son of a cattle rancher shot and killed him at his home. The movie does a great job of making viewers aware of what is happening in Brazil and how much destruction of the Amazon rain forests actually takes place.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thought provoking action film!, January 14, 2000
This review is from: The Burning Season - The Chico Mendes Story [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Raul Julia sympathetically portrays a modern icon of the environmental movement in a wonderful propoganda film. The film delves headfirst into issues of social and environmental justice and ethics. The viewer cannot come away without stirred emotions and be haunted by the images.
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