Samson and Delilah

I watched yesterday Samson and Delilah, an amazing film about the aborigines in Australia and their current situation in the country. I am embedding the trailer, but I recommend to arrive fresh at the cinema (I personally don't like to watch trailers and read synopsis before). So here is my six stars recommendation.

The film is not yet released in the UK, I watched it at 'guests' view promoted by Survival, an international organisation that aims to help the nearly extinct tribes around the world. Here is the link of their website.

And an extract from Survival's brochure:

SURVIVAL NOT EXTINCTION
Time is running out. Big businesses and governments driven by racism and greed are rapidly pushing tribal peoples to extinction. They are stealing their lands, violating their human rights, and obliterating their cultures.

Survival forces tribal issues into the political and cultural mainstream. We are helping tribal peoples defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures. Over the past 40 years we have repeatedly triumphed over victimization and oppression through education, advocacy and public pressure.

HUMANS NOT ALIENS
The governments and commercial forces that persecute tribes regard them as inferior, and will stop at nothing to get what they want, including murder, torture and exile. But this is just an extension of a much deeper racial prejudice that sees tribal people as 'primitive', 'uncivilised', an impediment to 'progress' and many rungs below us on the evolutionary ladder.

There is a perception that tribes are stuck in the past or that the thrust of our work is to preserve them in a romantic bubble. Not true. just like you and I, tribal people live in the modern world and deal with it every day. At the root of Survival's work is teaching people around the world that tribal cultures - where they allowed to flourish - are dynamic, ever-evolving, sustainable, and relevant.





there are some great clips from behind the scenes on their profile: Samson and Delilah


I came from south of Brasil and I witnessed this every day. I am hardly touched by it and I definitely definitely DON'T understand how people could be so cruel to get on this situation... Everywhere is the same shit.. here is a link to read about the Guaranis in Brasil. (Download the report in pdf on the bottom of the page)


credits to my friend Jorge Martin who gave me the opportunity to watch this film. He is an amazing illustrator who drew this book about Shamans of a tribe of Brasil, beyond many others sensitive works. Here is his web page.