Brave New Land

The year is 1778. Diogo is a cartographer working for Portugal. His task is to fix the borders. He sets out from Coimbra and reaches the Pantanal. There is a Portuguese fort in the region. At the fort they are seeking an agreement with the Guaicuru. The Guaicuru are a people who ride. While that effort is under way something happens. Portuguese soldiers attack Kadiwéu women bathing in the river. The film shows this without dwelling on detail. That act changes everything. Diogo is drawn into it against his will. Any chance of peace is gone. Violence takes hold of both sides. The Guaicuru roles were played by Kadiwéu villagers of today. Diogo Infante and Floriano Peixoto appear in the hundred and four minute film, a Brazilian production Lúcia Murat finished in 2000.