Review of The Territory (2022) by Bertobellamy — 17 Jan 2023
In the first shot, an Uru-eu-wau-wau takes the camera lying on the floor capturing the hard labor of Amazonian jungle ants. The impersonal angle suddenly takes a very intimate one when we start seeing everything in first-person mode. This scene encompasses everything 'The Territory' stands for: giving the indigenous people the tools to protect what is theirs. Alex Pritz has done a remarkable job by giving the Uru-eu-wau-wau everything they need to document the invasion of their land, and not just equipment but knowledge. Maybe this sounds like a whole "white savior" affair, but Pritz is nowhere to be found; I learned about the process in Roger Deakins' podcast. But the most notable aspect of this work is how it listens to both sides, letting you know why the invaders desperately want to "colonize" new land. They're not portrayed as villains, but as normal people just trying to survive. Of course, Pritz captures their horrible path of destruction and the evil capitalist forces that take advantage of them. Making the land a commodity no matter the cost.
'The Territory' is a must-see documentary that will anger you and give you hope at the same time.
This review of The Territory (2022) was written by Bertobellamy on 17 January 2023.
The Territory has generally received very positive reviews.
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