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If there were ever a place that came close to the magical world of Pandora in James Cameron’s new film Avatar, it would probably be the Amazon. There may not be butterflies that look like flying squid, but in the Amazon can you eat giant worms and lemon flavored ants for dinner in a forest that is home to both the jaguar and the pink dolphin. Reporter Melaina Spitzer joined a group of indigenous leaders from the Amazon in Ecuador’s capital Quito, to see Avatar on the big screen in 3D.
The Supercines Theater is on one of the busiest streets in Quito. On this afternoon it’s filled with indigenous leaders bussed in from the Amazon. They’re decked out in their plumes, feathered crowns and jewelry. Some of them look a little overwhelmed but that’s not too surprising.
These women say this is the first time they’ve ever been to a theater. Some have never seen a movie.
As we pass into the theater, a few look confused as ushers hand out thick dark 3D glasses. The seats fill up so people sit on the steps and in the aisles. And then the lights go down.
Indigenous viewers are impressed by the 3D graphics in Avatar for many, it's their first time in a movie theater.
The movie tells the story of a planet called Pandora, home to the indigenous Na’vi. They’re fighting to protect their forests from a company set on mining a rare mineral called “unobtaneum.”
When it’s over, I speak with Mayra Vega. She’s 24 years old and head of the Women’s Association of the Shuar Nation. She says Avatar hit home for her people.
Mayra Vega, 24, Director of the Women's Association of the Shuar Nation, travelled overnight from the Amazonian city of Macas to see Avatar on the big screen.
“It left a huge impression on us. For example, the movies are almost real. It’s an example that makes us think a lot because the indigenous are defending their rights. We have to defend just as the indigenous so clearly defended in the movie. We had an uprising we had a confrontation with gases; it’s the same as what we just saw in the movie.”
Vega says just like in Avatar, the Shuar are fighting to protect their land from mining companies. And they’re not the only ones.
The Kichwa Community of Sarayaku took on CGC, an Argentine Energy company. Marlon Santi is President of the National Indigenous Confederation of Ecuador and a Sarayaku native. He sees the Sarayaku case as a real life Avatar story, where the indigenous triumphed over the oil company. But unlike in Avatar, they didn’t use violence.
The Sarayaku Case is one of the emblematic cases in the struggle for territorial and environmental defense, and for human rights.
Another case involves the Waorani: beneath their territory in Yasuni National Park lie 846 million barrels of oil. Yasuni is a biodiverse hotspot that’s often referred to as a grand lung of the earth. It is also one of the few places left on earth where uncontacted indigenous groups live in isolation. Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa has offered to forgo drilling in this pristine environment… if the international community will pay Ecuador more than three and a half billion dollars … about half the value of the oil. But Correa has recently questioned the deal causing an uproar at home.
At a reception after the film Marlon Santi says he hopes the president will ultimately bow to public pressure and keep his commitment to preserve Yasuni. And he thinks Avatar could help with that.
“Honestly, this is the first time I’m seeing this movie, and it’s reality, what’s happening now just in another dimension.”
Veteran Achuar leader Luis Vargas tries out the 3D glasses.
Others say there was at least one thing in the movie that veered from their reality Achuar leader Luis Vargas says it’s where the white guy sweeps in to the rescue. But he says that’s to be expected.
“This is a Hollywood movie, so it’s practically a given that a mestizo comes to the defense and leads (the people) to triumph in the end.”
Still, he liked the film and his fellow Achuar leader Ernesto Vargas says he hopes another group will get a chance to see it.
“Think of how much better it would be if we showed this film to people who actually want to exploit petroleum. I think it would serve them very well, even more than us.”
As for Ecuador’s President Correa, he saw the movie with his children the day after it premiered in Ecuador. No word yet on what he thought of it.
For the World, I’m Melaina Spitzer in Quito, Ecuador.
Video produced by Siegmund Thies.
I’m glad these people got to see this movie. They are right about oil exploiters should see this movie, the sad part is how the movie may not have the desired effect on these money hungry CEOs.
Excellent idea from PRI and a great story. Truly amazing to see the global reach and cross-cultural impact of this film. Now, to what effect?
It is 2164. After the Corporation has dammed all the rivers in Ecuador and other countries, it is back on Pandora. It plans to turn the blue moon’s life energy into electricity and beam it to the Earth. See a blog from our Avatar on what this means for the Na’vi and their brothers and sisters on planet Earth at http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/5031.
Having just returned from Equador and spending time with the Achuar tribe in the Amazon Rain Forest I was amazed at the similarities between this movie and reality. I hope that this message (Avatar) will serve as more than just great entertainment and cause us to get curious about some of the choices we make and the impact they have. It is time for us to change the dream before we no longer have the option to do so. Thanks for capturing this story.
Great story idea. I look forward to hearing more from this reporter.
Has the news of the Indigenous people and thier comments after seeing Avatar been sent to James Cameron. He is preparing a sequel and this real life reaction of indigenous people should inform the direction his story will take. Does the story have to be that only by violent struggle can the people succeed or can it by non-violent means, as the Achuar in this video are suggesting? What a great movie that would make, one of strategizing, befriending, maneuvering, and overcoming the dark forces by holding to the greater good for all. The great part would be figuring out how to do that without getting killed.
As the Indigenous woman at the end of the movie clip said, ‘There has to be another message’ (other than war).
Cameron would do well to show us how people can listen to each other.
Indigenous knowledge has much to teach us about doing more with less.
Has the news of the Indigenous people and their comments after seeing Avatar been sent to James Cameron? He is preparing a sequel and this real life reaction of indigenous people could inform the direction his story will take. Does the story have to be that only by violent struggle can the people succeed or can it by non-violent means, as the Achuar in this video are suggesting? What a great movie that would make, one of strategizing, befriending, maneuvering, and overcoming the dark forces by holding to the greater good for all. The great part would be figuring out how to do that without getting killed.
The box office for Avatar is $1.4 billion and climbing every day. What if the people who see the film, who are connected to decision makers in mining, oil and other industries that take resources from the rain forest, take those CEO’s to see Avatar…??? What kind of discussion, insights, actions would this generate?
Take a CEO to Avatar……
wonderful story…still i was aghast to see these indigenous people drinking large paper cups of COKE!….aint NOTHING natural about that! (and non recyclable plastic straws)…sheesh
I got to say the movie is just the reality of what is happening on Yasuni, Sadly Ecuador’s president Rafael Correa seems to have no choice, Ecuador is a small and pour country and the oil that is above the surface of Yasuni is estimated in 7 billion dollars, Rafael Correa was asking for have of it to the international Banks, and nobody wants to do nothing. If other countries care they should try to do something to safe this wounderful paradise.
Great stuff. I am ‘fighting’ against the MEGA encroachment of the Chinese here which is MEGA real and rather scary and just like Avatar. They want everything and our ‘politicians’ let them do anything they like just for a pocketfull of that cash stuff! They don’t care at all about the futire or traditional ‘culture’, etc.