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
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:

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.

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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:

La selva esmeralda

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

The film was made and released about thirteen years after is source original newspaper article had first been published.

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Quotes

Bill Markham: Tomme, I want you to come with me. Momme wants you to come home.
Kachiri: He is finished with mothers. I am his woman now.
Bill Markham: You stole my son.
Tomme: Dadee.
Bill Markham: He took you from me, from Momme.
Tomme: That was long ago.
Bill Markham: I just want you to see the home that you came from.
Tomme: This is my home. It will be the home of my children.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Time of the Apes (1991)

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Soundtracks

Maior Abandonado
Written by Frejat and Cazuza
Performed by Barão Vermelho

User Reviews

Great exploration of man vs. the wild

THE EMERALD FOREST sees John Boorman returning to the dark heart of the world's wildernesses in this story about native tribes living in the Amazon. Powers Boothe plays an engineer whose son is kidnapped by one such tribe, leading him on a ten-year search for answers.

The film works on a double level. First, it stands as a completely adequate action-adventure, with all manner of violent shoot-outs, especially a climactic showdown that brings back memories of hard-hitting '70s greats like ROLLING THUNDER. There's suspense a-plenty, along with strong turns from both Boothe and the director's son.

The film's storyline also allows Boorman to explore themes that are clearly close to his heart, namely the destruction of the Amazonian rainforest by greedy developers and loggers, who turn out to be the real villains of the piece. Yes, it sounds like it could be preachy but it never is, thanks to Boorman's skill at handling the material with subtlety and grace.

THE EMERALD FOREST is virtually unknown today - I caught it tucked away in a late-night showing - but it doesn't deserve to be; DELIVERANCE is the better known effort but this comes close at frequent intervals.