The Forest People

The Guaraní, Brazil's largest indigenous population, were forced to the outermost fringes of society and violently robbed of their livelihoods. Now they are desperately fi ghting for their ancestors' land. The 'forest people', as the Guaraní are called, are powerless to stop the logging of rainforests. Agrobusinesses and large landowners are dividing up the land while the indigenous population are left to live out their days in reservations against their will. Director Gernot Lercher visited the Guaraní in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. His documentary doesn't just portray their painful battle for a piece of land, it also highlights their deep spiritual connection with nature. The Guaraní see themselves as protectors of the forest and its trees, believing these to be living beings with a soul.