INDIO

US, 1990, 94 minutes, Colour.
Marvin Hagler, Francesco Quinn, Brian Dennehy.
Directed by Antonio Margheriti (Anthony Dawson)

Indio is a pro-conservation film. However, it appeals to its action audience with all the ingredients of a Rambo-type thriller.

Anthony Quinn's son Francesco is a half Brazilian Indian, half American who returns on leave to find his family threatened by an American company led by a strong military colonel (played, characteristically, by Brian Dennehy). The film develops into a lethal confrontation between the two with the Green Beret-trained Quinn outwitting all the forces of the military and industry. The film has many violent touches - but is an opportunity for an appeal to some understanding of conservation issues for the wide popular action thriller audience. (Something of the same was done with the musical, Lambada, which capitalised on the dance craze of 1990 as well as offering comment on conservation in Brazil.)

1. Entertaining action thriller? One man against the might of an oppressive group? The violent action thriller tradition of the '80s?

2. South American locations, the jungle and the forests, the special effects and stunts for the clearing of the forest, for the military style confrontations? Stunt work and effects? Musical score?

3. The title, the focus on the Brazilian Indians, their heritage in the jungle, the outsiders coming in, the Americans and their despising of the locals?

4. The clearing of the forests, the ruthlessness of the Americans, using military men? The equipment? The unscrupulous workmen? The Indians, their helplessness, the literal bulldozing of their villages? The loss of their livelihood, traditions? Their dying out? Imprisonment and torture?

5. Daniel, his American background, distinguished training and career, home in the village? The return, the destruction of the village? The arrest, difficulties with his passport? Pressures from the colonel to get him out? His escape, discovering the truth, helping the Indians? His father's death? His using his jungle tactics, the sabotage of the vehicles, the explosions? The confrontation with the colonel? The capture and imprisonment of the Indians? Capture, torture? His escape, the one man and his shrewdness in using tactics? Complete destruction? The encounter with his former instructor, refusing the pay-off, getting his support? One man and a cause standing against exploitation?

6. The colonel, military background, ambitions, wanting to make money? No scruple, ruthlessness? The men, the police, standover tactics, helicopter flights? The shootouts with Daniel? Imprisoning him, his escape? Using Jake and the money, the bribe? His defeat, the explosions, his returning beaten?

7. The locals, drivers of the bulldozers, etc? Lack of scruple, cruelty?

8. The Indians, their tribal ways, religion - and Daniel and his father evoking the storm, the rains to bog the equipment? The traditional gods on the side of the Indians? Harassment, imprisonment, the child, his being followed? The girl and her love for Daniel?

9. The background of the exploitation of the Brazilian jungles, local politics, brutality, American companies? The film as an indictment? The impact for the action audience rather than the intellectual audience? How effective a plea for the environment?