When Alexia and Janet went travelling in Peru, wanting to explore the jungle, they weren’t sure what to expect or exactly what they would find. What they didn’t want was the often over-saturated, tourist-oriented Ayahuasca retreat that was often offered to them. The Amazon is rich with tribal communities that know the land like no other. Puerto Prado sits on the banks of the river and is where their documentary was to emerge from. In the trailer alone, it is evident what they ended up finding was a rich landscape and powerful scenery.
If you watch the trailer for Ventures in The Amazon: The Peruvian Kukama Tribe on YouTube @ Converging Stories you will be immediately struck by how connected it is to the fascinating local community and the sensitivity of the project. The black and white saturated interviews shift into the dynamic coloured scenes, as the documentary centers around a powerful multi-generational story. In fact, when I had the pleasure of talking to Janet and Alexia (the creators of the documentary) I was struck by how the project came to them. In Peru, without a set plan, they met Cristian Jhoau Ahuanari Tapullima (Cris); a local to the Puerto Prado community, who offered to show them his lifestyle in the Amazonian jungle.
Such is the departure point where the pair began their documentary. Janet having studied Anthropology at university, having dabbled in different Art forms and Alexia’s long-time passion being behind the camera, gave them both an invested curiosity to document different cultures. The opportunity Cris offered to show them was thus invaluable, showing them just how in touch the indigenous people – the Kukama tribe – were with their natural environment, from medicinal resources to wildlife knowledge. An opportunity which, through their lense, they are now ready to share with us.
More than merely fascinating, the Kukama Tribe’s knowledge is at threat of becoming extinct. Their language, alongside culture and way of life, is increasingly endangered with the rise of globalisation and industrialisation. That is not to say, however, that Cris and his family are out of touch with the modern world. Rather, the documentary explores how they have found a way of living symbiotically with it and their jungle heritage. As Malta’s language and culture also becomes increasingly endangered, there may be important insights and aspects to look at through this documentary.
This, as Janet and Alexia, explained to me, is the point of Converging Stories. The ability to find the common ground between one’s own culture and someone else’s, between the modern world and what the environment has always already known. In turn, the documentary hopes to navigate these connecting pathways to Maltese audiences. The trailer offers an excellent prospect of how that could be done.
Not only is there a growing Peruvian expat community in Malta, there is a stereotype that the word ‘tribe’ always means living in isolation. The documentary reveals that it can truly be anything but. Maltese audiences may be interested in understanding how one can live both with the knowledge of history and the prospect of futurity. The documentary may offer a chance to cross the communicative and physical barrier in order to see other lifestyles. Upon returning to Malta, Janet and Alexia’s research showed them that Cris and his family had more prominence in their community than they truly let on. Cris’ mother, Ema Marisol Tapullima Murayar, is the first woman Lieutenant Governor in Loreto. His grandmother, Maria Eusebia Murayari, is the elder and healer of the community. Together they offer great knowledge and wisdom of their culture that is at fatal risk of being lost. Hence why Cris has begun his own tour company, aptly named ‘Real People Tours’ to show more of his community.
The documentary aims to centre on this as well and bring attention to this truly incredible mission. The documentary will premiere in late September in Malta. Keep a look out on @convergingstories social media for the exact dates, times, and location. It promises to be an eye-opening viewing.
