Cry of the Forgotten Land is as rare as it is beautiful--rare because of restrictive politics that ban journalists from New Guinea, and beautiful because of the glorious flora and fauna which have been filmed before they disappear. This video documents, with a lush, roaming camera, the cultural upheaval in Papua New Guinea, site of the last tribes of non-industrialized peoples, including the Moi. The Moi's harmonious relationship to nature is threatened by the imperialistic Indonesian government whose emigrants are chopping down the proverbial rain forest. Such a story doesn't seem particularly distinct any more. But what makes Cry of the Forgotten Land important and refreshing is the visible resistance and vigilance of the Moi people. Through translators, Moi women and men articulate their dissent in clear, strong voices. The video explains (with maps) the short history of New Guinea's relationship to the world, and its indigenous wonders, including its 1,000 languages and 100,000 species undocumented by western science. The Moi lifestyle is shown to be efficient and sustainable, in contrast to clearcutting and industrial processing. This short film will politicize anyone who responds to the natural beauty of New Guinea and believes in the right of local people to manage their own lives and resources. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (A. Laker)
Cry Of The Forgotten Land
(1995) 26 min. $89. Video Project. PPR. Color cover. Vol. 11, Issue 3
Cry Of The Forgotten Land
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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