The Territory

Alex Pritz's 2022 documentary follows the resistance of the Uru-eu-wau-wau people in the Brazilian state of Rondônia to illegal settlement on their land. As Bitaté, a young leader, and Neidinha, an environmental defender, try to protect the forest, the settlers' own reasoning also enters the film. The documentary's most important feature is how it was made: when the community closed its entrances during the pandemic, young Uru-eu-wau-wau continued the filming with their own cameras, and part of the film came directly from their hands. That takes the account out of being an outside view. It won an award at Sundance. Some of the footage is harsh and contains real violence. Who it's for: viewers interested in environmental documentary and Indigenous struggles for rights. Who it's not for: anyone avoiding images of violence and death, or expecting a neutral account.