The Waorani tribe in the Ecuadorian Amazon collaborates with a group of educators (Stanford) to preserve their oral tradition and the wisdom of their elders by recording their stories and creating an educational program that incorporates the Ecuadorian curriculum with their traditions.
The documentary features strong, endearing characters, like Gange (Anita) and her grandmother Weba. Filmed over 11 years Miwene shows us how Gange becomes a confident filmmaker, mother and leader in her community.
Meeting Weba is such a treat! She's wise, practical and her chants through out the film serve at times as it's soundtrack to great effect.
At some point in the story we learn that the outside world calls the Waorani 'auca' a slur that means savage. Watching the amazing story of a community committed to preserving their way of life and protecting their forest I can't help but think that the 'aucas' are the intruders that want to exploit the land, extract the oil and destroy air and water quality and not the noble Waorani people.
The documentary features strong, endearing characters, like Gange (Anita) and her grandmother Weba. Filmed over 11 years Miwene shows us how Gange becomes a confident filmmaker, mother and leader in her community.
Meeting Weba is such a treat! She's wise, practical and her chants through out the film serve at times as it's soundtrack to great effect.
At some point in the story we learn that the outside world calls the Waorani 'auca' a slur that means savage. Watching the amazing story of a community committed to preserving their way of life and protecting their forest I can't help but think that the 'aucas' are the intruders that want to exploit the land, extract the oil and destroy air and water quality and not the noble Waorani people.