Clearing in the Jungle, A

Synopsis: The Panare Indians of Venezuela have lived in almost daily contact with Creoles, Spanish-speaking peasants, for the last fifty years but remain distinctively Indian in their way of life. ‘In that time, they’ve acquired almost no possessions, not even the cattle or pigs or horses that they see every day with the Creoles. When they go off into the jungle or to another village, they take every object they possess in a basket on their backs. Anything which won’t go in that basket, they reject. They produce everything they need without working long hours. If they chose, they could produce a surplus of things like tobacco, and they could sell or barter it for money and possessions. But they don’t. They like their leisure’ (Dumont). The film explores the relationship of the Panare to outsiders and the way in which their society is changing.
Series: Disappearing World, Series
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Film; Film. 16mm. sd. col. 38 min.
Technical information: Black-and-white / Sound
Year of production: 1970
Availability: Sale; 2000 sale: £50.00 (+VAT +p&p)
Notes: Broadcast on ITV 19/5/70.
Subjects: Anthropology
Keywords: Amazon river; Indians of North & South America; Panare; social life and customs; Venezuela

Name: Royal Anthropological Institute Film & Video Library, c/o Concord Media
Email: sales@concordvideo.co.uk
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