Adventures of Makunaima directed by Chico Faganello

 Adventures of Makunaima is an essay film in the form of a musical documentary, exploring how echoes of ancestry remain alive in the daily lives of Indigenous people - not only along the border between Brazil and Venezuela but also across other boundaries: one that separates a violent world - with an aggressive history shaped by modernity - from another world - poetic, affectionate, and deeply connected to plants, animals, and the cosmos. And many other boundaries, where time and form intertwine within the narratives of our present lives.

We conducted research, prepared, and staged a theatrical play with indigenous children in Roraima and São Paulo, published a book in Portuguese and four indigenous languages, and, with additional self-funding, we are making this film - which prioritizes giving voice to indigenous children in present-day Brazil rather than repeating non-indigenous narratives disconnected from real life in the Amazon. As a significant part of the crew, the entire cast of the film is also Indigenous.

The film presents a contemporary Brazil - strong, resilient, fighting with dignity and pride - that does not need to hide its struggles but rather seeks to understand different populations and preserve forests and clean waters alongside their inhabitants.

The film Adventures of Makunaima returns to the origins of these ancestral stories, now told by Indigenous children, and invites reflection on the contemporary cultural industry’s relationship with narratives created by Indigenous communities centuries ago.

Above all, Adventures of Makunaima is a playful and affectionate encounter with the residents of a joyful and welcoming Indigenous community, particularly the children of Waraa’Pay, Boca da Mata.