The Emerald Forest (1985)

After the son of engineer Bill Markham is abducted by an aboriginal tribe on the edge of the rain forest, the engineer spends the next 10 years searching for him.

Director:

John Boorman

Writer:

Rospo Pallenberg

Stars:

Powers Boothe, Meg Foster, Yara Vaneau

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Powers Boothe	...	Bill Markham
Meg Foster	...	Jean Markham
Yara Vaneau	...	Young Heather
William Rodriguez	...	Young Tommy
Estee Chandler	...	Heather
Charley Boorman	...	Tomme
Dira Paes	...	Kachiri
Eduardo Conde	...	Uwe Werner
Ariel Coelho	...	Padre Leduc
Peter Marinker	...	Perreira
Mario Borges	...	Costa
Átila Iório	...	Trader (as Atilia Iorio)
Gabriel Archanjo	...	Trader's Henchman
Gracindo Júnior	...	Carlos (as Gracindo Junior)
Arthur Muhlenberg	...	Rico

Storyline

Based on a true story, Powers Boothe plays an American dam engineer in Brazil. Boothe's son (played by Charlie Boorman - son of director John Boorman) is kidnapped by a rain forest tribe, and raised as one of their own. Boothe continues to look for him and after many trials and adventures, stumbles upon him.

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Plot Keywords:

downpour | hunt | native american culture | native language | tribe | 

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Taglines:

The Adventure Movie of the Year.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Portuguese

Release Date:

3 July 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Smaragdwald

Filming Locations:

Araguaia River, Brazil

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,345,150, 7 July 1985

Gross USA:

$24,468,550

Company Credits

Production Co:

Christel Films, Embassy Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many posters for the film featured a long blurb that read: "What kind of man would return year after year for ten years to rescue a missing boy from the most savage jungle in the world? His father. 'The Emerald Forest'. Based on a true story."

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Quotes

Wanadi: If I tell a man to do what he does not want to do, I am no longer chief.

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Connections

Referenced in Nobody from Nowhere (2014)

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Soundtracks

Maior Abandonado
Written by Frejat and Cazuza
Performed by Barão Vermelho

User Reviews

The best movie of Boorman

Certainly the best of Boorman. After seeing again Deliverance, which was thrilling when it was first released, and Excalibur, poetical, Wagnerian but a little bit out of date (regarding the shining 70's fake armors), Emerald Forest deepens philosophy and ethnology. Very profound and touching, very good acting, excellent photography, technically superb, there's nothing to really complain about. It hasn't aged at all and probably won't. I gave it a 10 because I do not see anything to improve. In our sad new era of ethnological destruction, where there's no place anymore for the Aborigene or any other tribal culture, this movie gives a little hope, a little reverie of seeing things turning in the right direction thanks to ancient magic. How vain but how beautiful!