A remarkable documentary that has the wisdom to portray moral and political ambiguity instead of taking an easier, black-and-white, heroes-and-villains approach, When Two Worlds Collide tells the tragic story of a fight for the soul of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. When Peru's former president, Alan Garcia, became hell-bent on forming a free-trade deal with the U.S. during George W. Bush's administration, he fast-tracked the exploitation of oil, natural gas, and other resources in the Amazon region, which left behind a trail of severe environmental wreckage and degradation. Filmmakers Mathew Orzel and Heidi Brandenburg capture what followed, as more than 1,300 communities of indigenous peoples living in the rainforest organize and begin fighting for what they claim are their constitutional rights to ban such development. Led by the soft-spoken, charismatic Alberto Pizango, the resistors block major roads leading into cities, causing shortages and fueling official and civilian anger. The protracted battle, which worsens after failed negotiations and brazen tricks by Garcia's ruling party, becomes more horrible when showdowns between police and protestors lead to multiple deaths and hostage situations. Orzel and Brandenburg are there every step of the way, putting themselves at grave risk in order to remain objective even as they maintain the trust of Pizango and his followers. The result is a complex portrait of opposing sympathies and decisions on all sides that inevitably leads to violence. Is Pizango or anyone else truly on the right side of history in this fight? When Two Worlds Collide provides startling testimony that there might not be a correct answer. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)
When Two Worlds Collide
(2016) 103 min. In Spanish w/English subtitles. DVD: $19.95. First Run Features (avail. from most distributors). Volume 32, Issue 1
When Two Worlds Collide
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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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