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The Territory

Play trailer Poster for The Territory PG Released Aug 19, 2022 1h 24m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 74 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
THE TERRITORY provides an immersive on-the-ground look at the tireless fight of the Indigenous Uru-eu-wau-wau people against the encroaching deforestation brought by illegal settlers and an association of nonnative farmers in the Brazilian Amazon. With awe-inspiring cinematography showcasing the titular landscape and richly textured sound design, the film takes audiences deep into the Uru-eu-wau-wau community and provides unprecedented access to the settlers illegitimately burning and clearing land along with a network of farmers fighting to legitimize their illegal land grab. Partially shot by the Uru-eu-wau-wau people, the film relies on vérité footage captured over three years as the community risks their lives to set up their own news media team in the hopes of exposing the truth.
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The Territory

The Territory

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Critics Consensus

Visually striking, formally refreshing, and ultimately enraging, The Territory is a powerful advocacy documentary with the heart of a thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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David Stratton The Australian It’s a sobering film offering little hope for the future of this part of the Amazon... Rated: 4/5 Sep 23, 2022 Full Review Wendy Ide Observer (UK) A must watch. Rated: 4/5 Sep 4, 2022 Full Review Leslie Felperin Guardian Watching this gripping documentary shot in the Brazilian Amazon, you wonder if our electoral system could learn a thing or two from the Indigenous Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau people. Rated: 4/5 Aug 31, 2022 Full Review Daniel Allen Loud and Clear Reviews The Territory is a visually stunning documentary about the human costs of climate change, as an Indigenous Brazilian tribe fights for their survival. Rated: 4/5 Jul 25, 2024 Full Review Nuha Hassan Nuha Hassan A visually stunning masterpiece that focuses on the connection between community and the importance of learning how deforestation has a negative impact on the current environment. Sep 8, 2023 Full Review Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice A documentary revealing how indigenous peoples are trying to protect their land -- and the whole Brazilian rainforest -- from the invasion of nonnative farmers and illegal settlers. Rated: 4.5/5 May 28, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Lucille T I find myself in the world of many - mock-umentaries - some are based on fact - but obviously - staged. This was a true version of a documentary! The involvement with National Geographic and their support in making this important film was very evident. How many times have we been 'told' that the climate change is due to fossil fuel - when indeed, we are using our planet's natural inner resources!! I would not buy an electric car - too expensive - and the need to charge a battery for 7-8 hours and use the expensive - highly expensive - cost of energu that is electric adds further to this cost! Then tehre is the inevitable - the higher price of repairs, maintenance, et cetera - and - the need to buy a new battery of this nature, when it is going - all batteries go! I live in the Mojave Desert - a new battery is needed every two years - do ther math. Why am I saying this? Simple, the real cause of the higher climatic temperatures is the Amazonian Rainforest being cut down for new homes and further exhausting our planet's need for fresh air - which is the basis of these incredible trees and jungle growth - they keep us alive! So - when the Indigenous peoples - whose population is down to 180 people!!!! - from thousands because of the diseases brought in and their villages taken away by 'prospectors" who have taken their land and lives. This was something that I knew about but had never seen up close in a cinema! Reality bites - stop the electric vehicles and start protecting the Amazon - there will be less drastic change in our atmosphere. The Earth knows how to protect itself - but it is being slaughtered by greedy people who want more land in the middle of nowhere - we need sanctuaries of forest and jungle to permit the Earth to exist -it doesn't come in an electric voltage machine - it comes from within! Thank you to National Geographic for producing and releasing this important knowledge - I do hope many will see it and realize that mankind is his own worst enemy. A great film! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/30/22 Full Review elizabethblakley This is an important film for anyone who cares about the future of the planet. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/27/22 Full Review KatMeow 4h ago Beautiful documentary... from National Geographic, that's expected. A very good look into both sides of the problem in the Amazon Rain Forest focusing on the territory of the Indigenous Uru-eu-wau-wau people. It's also a wonderful look into how these people live today and how modernized they have become while doing their best to hold on to a lifestyle and home environment they love. It also shows people who seek to destroy and take it away by force because they are seeking to make it a home environment that THEY want.... by destroying the Amazon rainforest to build housing lots and cities... the "new" Brazil. Of course the decimation of the rainforest will lead to catastrophes and decimation of much of the planet and things all life needs to survive in our world. There is no solution offered to the conflict but a desire to show us what is happening there and the effects it's happening on all the people involved. It's a very important struggle and one the entire world needs to know about. With very easy to read subtitles, humor, conflict, action and not too long, you never get bored. Most will enjoy this. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/25/22 Full Review dave d A fascinating film covering the Uru-eu-wau-wau indigenous of Brazil. The movie also portrays poor farmers who are also land grabbers. The mental gymnastics for the unwelcome guests is mind-numbing. They believe the land is theirs, because the Uru-eu-wau-wau don't exist. Filled with mystery, suspense and intrigue, director Alex Pritz shows just about no matter where you live, natives are treated poorly. Eventually, the Uru-eu-wau-wau turn the tables and develop a media team. They shot a good portion of the movie! Emotional and eye-opening, 'The Territory' is an impactful documentary that needs to be seen! Final Score: 8/10 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member As gorgeous as Avatar, but more rooted in the reality of ongoing environmental injustice on our planet. It paints a complex picture of this intricate issue over land grab in the Amazon, bringing the both the indigenous as well as the antagonist settler logic closer to the viewer. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Beth M This was an incredible disappointment. I'm usually excited when National Geographic puts out a new documentary, but this was awful. And awful is being kind. Not only is this documentary slow and boring - but there are no subtitles: you can't understand the dialogue. So what's the point of watching something if you don't know the story or what's going on? I only made it though 20 minutes of it before I turned it off, and I wish I could get that 20 minutes of my life back. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 12/08/22 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis THE TERRITORY provides an immersive on-the-ground look at the tireless fight of the Indigenous Uru-eu-wau-wau people against the encroaching deforestation brought by illegal settlers and an association of nonnative farmers in the Brazilian Amazon. With awe-inspiring cinematography showcasing the titular landscape and richly textured sound design, the film takes audiences deep into the Uru-eu-wau-wau community and provides unprecedented access to the settlers illegitimately burning and clearing land along with a network of farmers fighting to legitimize their illegal land grab. Partially shot by the Uru-eu-wau-wau people, the film relies on vérité footage captured over three years as the community risks their lives to set up their own news media team in the hopes of exposing the truth.
Director
Alex Pritz
Producer
Will N. Miller, Sigrid Jonsson Dyekjær, Lizzie Gillett, Darren Aronofsky, Gabriel Uchida
Distributor
National Geographic Documentary Films
Production Co
National Geographic, Picturehouse Cinemas
Rating
PG (Some Smoking|Language|Brief Nudity|Thematic Material)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
Brazilian Portuguese
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 19, 2022, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA)
$26.2K
Runtime
1h 24m
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