Film Uncovers Hidden Korubo Voices from Amazon Expedition

Director Nathan Grossman's "Amazomania" delves into a 1996 expedition into Brazil's Amazon, using extensive archival footage to scrutinize the framing of an encounter with the Korubo people. The film, premiering at CPH:DOX, reveals a significant gap between the initial portrayal of the expedition and the reality captured in the raw material.

Grossman, collaborating with the Korubo community and anthropologist Barbara Arisi, unearthed untranslated conversations that exposed misunderstandings from the expedition. The film presents much of the original footage unmediated in its first half, immersing viewers before critically examining the narrative.

The title "Amazomania" refers to the enduring fascination outsiders have with the region. The Korubo community executive-produced "Amazomania," ensuring they receive half of its proceeds, though Grossman hopes for greater community control over the archive in the future.

"Amazomania" highlights the fragile reality facing isolated Indigenous communities, noting around 200 groups still live in voluntary isolation. Grossman raises urgent questions about future documentation of such sensitive contact events, emphasizing the need to prioritize Indigenous perspectives.