Decades-Long Reunion: American Man Seeks to Reconnect with Indigenous Mother in the Amazon

In October 2025, the documentary film "Wayumi" is set to make its world premiere at the DOC NYC festival. The film follows the story of David Good, an American man, as he embarks on a journey to reunite with his Indigenous mother, Yarima, after she returned to her Yanomani tribe in the Venezuelan Amazon Rainforest over 30 years ago.

The film, which is the directorial debut of Andrew Balcof, is described as a "meditation on resilience, cultural survival, and the ties that endure across time and distance." It draws from hundreds of hours of footage, capturing Good's exploration of the jungles of Venezuela as well as his mother's adjustment to life in the suburbs of New Jersey.

Against the backdrop of the Amazon's stunning vistas and bureaucratic obstacles from the Venezuelan government, the story of Good and his mother's reunion is a powerful one. The first trailer for the film showcases the stark contrast between Yarima's comfort in her natural rainforest home and the challenges she faces in a department store, highlighting the cultural divide the two have navigated for decades.

"Wayumi" is set to receive a non-theatrical, digital release next year after its world premiere at DOC NYC, where the audience will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A with the director, producers, and executive producers.