The Territory

PG

Released Aug 19, 2022

1 hr. 24 min.

Documentary

List

97%

73 Reviews

Tomatometer

81%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

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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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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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

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Alex Pritz

Director

Neidinha Bandeira

Self

Will N. Miller

Producer

Sigrid Jonsson Dyekjær

Producer

Lizzie Gillett

Producer

Darren Aronofsky

Producer

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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

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

Amber Wilkinson

Eye for Film

The message is clear - the world needs to pay much closer attention to what is happening in Brazil, before it's too late.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 2, 2023

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: Danfung Dennis, Felipe Estefan, Rafael Georges, Rebecca Teitel, Alexandra Johnes, Loren Hammonds, Dylan Golden, Brendan Naylor, Andrew Ruhemann, Romain Besson, Philippe Levasseur, Ari Handel
Distributor: National Geographic Documentary Films
Production Co: National Geographic, Picturehouse Cinemas
Rating: PG (Some Smoking|Language|Brief Nudity|Thematic Material)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Portuguese (Brazil)
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 19, 2022, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.2K

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