THE BURNING SEASON
US, 1994, 115 minutes, Colour.
Raul Julia, Sonya Braga, Edward James Olmos, Nigel Havers, Tony Planer, Esai Morales, Thomas Milian.
Directed by John Frankenheimer.
The Burning Season is a film by John Frankenheimer, best known for his television work in the '50s, a series of hard-hitting films from the '50s into the mid-'60s, for instance The Train, All Fall Down, Birdman of Alcatraz, who then became more spectacular in his productions with films like Grand Prix. Over succeeding decades he has had a mixed career of cinema (French Connection II) and telemovies.
The Burning Season is the story of Chico Mendez, the Brazilian rubber farmer, who led the people against the clearing of the Amazon forests. By the mid-'80s he was a celebrated international figure who spoke out plainly and influenced world governments to put pressure on the Brazilian government, eventually naming part of the Amazon forest a national park with his name attached. However, he was assassinated by a rancher and his son.
The film takes the advantage of putting Mendez in his Brazilian perspective, in his Catholic perspective with explicit explanations of Jesus and his work as well as dying and laying down life for others. This atmosphere is reinforced by the casting of Raul Julia as Chico Mendez, his characterisation and the dialogue of the film being reminiscent of John Duigan's Romero.
The film is well worth looking at in terms of a significant individual, seeming insignificant, who is able to influence on a world level. In terms of ecological values, the film highlights the struggle of the latter part of the 20th century.
1.An interesting, entertaining social drama? Moral impact?
2.The film designed as a television movie, for a home audience, the message, the drama?
3.The film based on a true story, Brazil from the 1950s to the 1980s, the rubber farmers, the forests, the ranchers and their clearing the forests, the search for wealth? Brazil and its image of itself as an emerging nation? The role of the history of unions, the clash between the haves and the have-nots? Violence? World opinion and ecological change?
4.The prologue in 1951, the peasants having to pay so much money, the false weights and the unscrupulous dealers, the teacher and his wanting to work, teach Chico how to read? The rubber workers?
5.The transition to 1983: the confrontation between the unionist and those clearing the forests? The stances, the drivers, the thugs and their brutality? Pinheiro and his speeches, the formation of the union, the importance of his discourse in the church, his asking where Jesus would be (between the saws and the rubber trees)? His influence on Chico? With Regina? His influence with the people, his moral stance? His going into his house, the death threats, the television, his assassination?
6.Pinheiro and his images of breaking sticks and being unable to break bundles? The images of hands and clenched fists for power - but non-violently? The confrontations - and the attack on Chico, the man going to the worker with the saw and losing his arm?
7.Raul Julia's performance as Chico Mendez, his presence, personality? His ability to talk, for non-violent deals? His religious background, a churchgoer, the influence of the gospels? His standing for politics - a more simple approach to politics? His getting only 10 per cent of the vote?
8.The religious themes: the Catholic tradition, social justice, oppression? Asking where Jesus would be? Pinheiro's sermon? The significance of the ceremony of the Easter Vigil? The fire (compared with the clearing forest fires)? The Easter candles and their symbolism?
9.The portrait of the wealthy, bringing in the equipment, the ranchers, wanting to raise cattle for the markets of the US and Europe? The wealthy officers? The political connections? The need for more and more land? Their inability to see the ruin of the land?
10.The film-maker, Steven Kaye? The first encounter with Mendez, seemingly rejected, accepted? His documenting the struggles? His providing the satellite photos of the burning forests - and their being used to persuade the peasants of what was happening?
11.The political campaigns, explanations of the situation, the politicians in league with the ranchers, Mendez? The tactics, TV, speeches?
12.Mendez and his personal life, his age, experience, attraction towards the secretary, the scene of his asking her father's permission to marry, the marriage, the children, the death of the child? His love for his family, the presents?
13.His being persuaded to go to Miami, the contrast of affluent Miami with Brazil? The T-shirts? Steven Kaye trying to introduce him, his being snubbed by various national representatives, the economic arguments against him? His speech about the rationale of what he was doing? His going on TV? The importance of his speeches - and the effect on the Brazilian government?
14.The rancher and his sons, their brutality and violence? Wanting more land? The businessmen and their offering money, the sex scene with the three women? The murders? The confrontation with Mendez and the rancher's speech about American history and its ruthlessness? The final confrontation with the people? Firing the shots in the air - and the people singing? The police coming? The young man and his attack, his being threatened, his being ambushed and shot with nine bullets?
15.The meeting about the violence, arguments for and against, the vote? The non-violent approach? The reaction of the world press and the reaction of the businessmen?
16.The politicians and the businessmen coming to Mendez for negotiation? The arguments about the land? His inviting them to lunch, his non-replies? Yet the breaking through and the declaration of the forest and government land? The rubber workers and their ability to do their work, hold their land?
17.The final discussions? The discussions about martyrdom - and everybody urging him to leave? The young boy with the gun and his comment about going down fighting? His warning Mendez to go? The scene with the children, the gifts? His being killed?
18.The effect of Mendez' life? The significance for his people, for Brazil, for the world, for ecology? A story of the individual who followed his call, no matter what, with heroism?
