Following the 2019, 32-day expedition into the Amazon rainforest by the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (FUNAI) and led by Bruno Pereira, The Invention of the Other, documents the dangerous journey of this group who are working to reunite six members of the isolated indigenous Korubo who were dislocated from their community after a violent conflict with the nearby Matis community in 2015. In addition to returning the six members of the Korubo members to their community, the additional FUNAI goals were to calm any tension between the Korubo and Matis communities and to provide medical treatment and monitoring.
Bruno Jorge (director) opens the film with context for those unfamiliar with this expedition and a discussion from Pereira who outlines the dangers for all involved in a mission like this for both the Korubo and the FUNAI members. For the Korubo, there is the real threat of disease, but also the threat of violence from those being contacted by the FUNAI members. The danger of these missions, unfortunately, played out in June 2022 when Pereira along with a journalist were killed when ambushed by fishermen illegally fishing this remote region of the Amazon showing the real threat to this area.
During the journey along the Coari River in the Javari Valley, a remote and inaccessible indigenous reserve, the FUNAI team along with the members of the Korubo community found it difficult to track down the other members of their group, leading to the need to split up to cover more area. Ultimately, they were able to find the rest of the Korubo community which now consisted of 34 members, including 20 children and 14 adults up to the age of 48. There was an emotional reunion of the Korubo community and communication to explain those who are accompanying them on this journey.
This film provides an observational perspective of this journey and is in Portuguese with English subtitles. The Invention of the Other is a strong option for purchase for any research library collections supporting anthropology, Amazon studies, and South American studies. It is worth noting when using this film in a classroom setting, there is nudity and hunting and consumption of monkeys which some may find disturbing. The viewers will be left with questions about what happened after contact, which can inspire independent research when used in a classroom setting, This interesting documentary highlights the globalized world and the continued competition for resources which leads to more encroachment in this region.
What academic subjects would this film be suitable for?
This film is suitable for a range of academic subjects including anthropology, Amazon studies, and South American studies. Any area studies program that focuses on non-contacted communities in the Amazon. These can be from introductory courses through graduate programs.