The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story

Original title: The Burning Season

TV Movie
19941994
RR
2h 3min

The Burning Season (1994)

Biography Drama

Based on the true story of a Brazilian rubber tapper who leads his people in protest against government and developers who want to cut down their part of the rainforest for a new road and ra... Read allBased on the true story of a Brazilian rubber tapper who leads his people in protest against government and developers who want to cut down their part of the rainforest for a new road and ranch land. The rich and the powerful will stop at nothing, and frequently resort to murder.Based on the true story of a Brazilian rubber tapper who leads his people in protest against government and developers who want to cut down their part of the rainforest for a new road and ranch land. The rich and the powerful will stop at nothing, and frequently resort to murder.

Director
- John Frankenheimer
Writers
- Andrew Revkin(novel "The Burning Season in part")
- William Mastrosimone(story)
- Michael Tolkin(teleplay)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Won 2 Primetime Emmys
- 10 wins & 9 nominations total

Raul Julia in The Burning Season (1994)

Raul Julia in The Burning Season (1994)

Raul Julia in The Burning Season (1994)

Raul Julia in The Burning Season (1994)

Tomas Milian in The Burning Season (1994)

Raul Julia in The Burning Season (1994)

Kamala Lopez as Ilzamar Mendes in "The Burning Season" directed by John Frankenheimer, starring Raul Julia

Raul Julia, Sônia Braga, and Edward James Olmos in The Burning Season (1994)

Raul Julia in The Burning Season (1994)

Raul Julia and Sônia Braga in The Burning Season (1994)

Director
- John Frankenheimer
Writers
- Andrew Revkin(novel "The Burning Season in part")
- William Mastrosimone(story) (teleplay)
- Michael Tolkin(teleplay)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

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Based on the true story of a Brazilian rubber tapper who leads his people in protest against government and developers who want to cut down their part of the rainforest for a new road and ranch land. The rich and the powerful will stop at nothing, and frequently resort to murder. —Rob Hartill

liberation theology non violent resistance resistance environmental crime logging 30 more

Trivia
One of Raul Julia's final performances. For his role as Chico Mendes, he earned several posthumous awards (including Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG).

Goofs
During the scene of Wilson Pinheiro's execution, the characters are watching a well-known moment from the TV series Vale Tudo. This wouldn't be possible since this series would only be released in 1988 while Pinheiro was killed in 1980.

Quotes
Jair: 10%.
Chico Mendes: I lost by 10%?
Jair: No, you only got 10% of the votes. Chico, people are scared. You knew it was gonna be bad.
Chico Mendes: What the hell are you talking about? You think I can resign myself? To fighting for a lost cause? You think I'm out there every day for the good of my soul? I'm scared too. But I'm fighting because I believe we can win.

Connections
Featured in The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1995)

Top review

A good film cheapened by nudity

While the acting and cinematography were very good, I feel the quality of this movie was much diminished by a completely gratuitous sex scene. I would warn environmental educators or student activists against showing this movie, for there is full frontal nudity that adds absolutely nothing to the plot or character development. The director should be faulted, I believe, for deciding to include this scene, but otherwise the cast and story were engaging and well done. In short, be advised that its "not rated" rating doesn't begin to address the almost pornographic nudity--but still see this movie to learn more about an important environmental activist.

helpful•9

26

leftyrights
Feb 24, 2002

Release date
- September 17, 1994 (United States)
Countries of origin
- United States
- Mexico
Language
- English
Also known as
- Berättelsen om Chico Mendez
Filming locations
- Mexico
Production company
- HBO Pictures
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Runtime
- 2h 3min
Color
- Color
Sound mix
- Stereo
Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1

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