Home #Hwoodtimes ‘POV’ to Premiere Lyrical Documentary “Uýra: The Rising Forest” on PBS Network

‘POV’ to Premiere Lyrical Documentary “Uýra: The Rising Forest” on PBS Network

By
Valerie Milano
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Uýra, a trans-Indigenous artist, reclines on a throne made of various recycled materials as they sail down a river in a performance of "Priscilla: Queen of the Amazon." They wear a vinyl headwrap, with a green rippled fan framing their head, and hold a wooden staff. Their face is painted in vibrant colors of red, yellow, white, and blue, and their body is adorned with geometric tattoos.

On Monday, September 25, 2023, “Uýra: The Rising Forest” will make its national broadcast premiere at 10pmET/9C (check local listings).

By: Valerie Milano

Photos: Thiago Moraes

Occupying the center of the frame, a close up of a person whose face has been painted with blue make up and red lipstick and wears a headdress made of wood and twine. Their eyes and mouth are closed, and they are surrounded by the lush green forest with dappled light streaming in.

Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 9/18/23 – The Emmy® Award-winning series “POV” on PBS showcases the works of talented filmmakers worldwide. One of their latest releases is director Juliana Curi’s feature documentary debut, “Uýra: The Rising Forest.” The film follows the journey of Uýra, an Indigenous contemporary visual artist, as they traversed the Amazon Forest in search of self-discovery. Using performance art and ancestral messages, Uýra sought to teach Indigenous youth about the importance of identity and place while confronting structural racism, transphobia, and the environmental destruction of Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest.

Click below to see our exclusive interview:

Uýra is pictured under dried palm fronds situated on the right of the frame with head and part of the left shoulder visible. They wear a brightly colored floral pattern top with a thin necklace of black and white beads. With eyes closed and head covered in a hat made of sticks, a paintbrush is held in their right hand capturing the motion of a green line being painted down the left side of their face as the left-hand juts out into the foreground just slightly out of focus.

It’s a stunning film that showcases the work of Uýra, an artist who uses organic elements to create elaborate costumes that blur the lines between humans, animals, and plants. Her creations were awe-inspiring, using leaves, bark, fibers, plumage, and natural dyes to create hybrid creatures that freely move between the forest and the city. Uýra’s work is a commentary on the impact of anthropocentrism and industrialization. Her art encourages viewers to consider how we have separated ourselves from nature and the consequences of such actions. Her creations remind us that we are not just humans but a part of the natural world. As her work continues to draw crowds, it has become an inspiration for many. Reminding us to appreciate nature’s beauty and consider our impact on the world around us. It sends a powerful message that resonates with people worldwide, and Uýra’s legacy continues to grow. Uýra’s work is a testament to the power of art to inspire change. Her creations are not just beautiful but a call to action, reminding us of our responsibility to the natural world and urging us to take action to preserve it for future generations.

Surrounded by crumbling buildings of brick, concrete, windows and green ivy, a figure strikes a pose with arms held up, palms visible and faces the viewer. Their body is painted green and strewn with long dried grass that covers the left arm and part of the chest. Their face, partially obstructed by a large green leaf drawn over the eyes, is painted white; only the nose, mouth and chin are visible. The blue-sky looms overhead, calling attention to the dramatic architectural pointed feature sitting atop the center of the building.

“Uýra: The Rising Forest” premiered at Frameline46: The San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival in 2022, winning the Audience Award for Best Documentary. The film has gone on to win multiple awards, including Best Documentary at the New Filmmakers LA Film Festival, the Grand Jury Award at NewFest’s 34th Annual New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival, and the Special Programming Award for Freedom at the 2022 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival. It even won the Jury Prize at London Film Week. It was named the Best Feature Documentary at the 2023 One World Media Awards in the United Kingdom. But it wasn’t just the film that captured the attention of audiences. Uýra’s work was so captivating that it was shown at a solo exhibit at the Currier Museum of Art.

A face peers out from behind a dark brown tree trunk with fingertips touching the tree. Though the face is partially obscured we see a left eye which is beset with a red contact lens gazing out towards the right side of the frame, their nose is painted black and closed lips colored a dark red, cheek and chin shaded orange. A dense mass of dark green foliage with some light streaming in surrounds the face.

The film is a stunning visual experience, with eye-popping imagery that will leave viewers mesmerized. But more than just a feast for the eyes, “Uýra: The Rising Forest” is an inspiring tale of courage and resilience in the face of adversity.

Produced by João Henrique Kurtz, Curi, Lívia Cheibub, and Martina Sönksen, and co-produced by Uýra Sodoma, the film was a co-presentation with Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB) and Peril and Promise, a public media initiative from The WNET Group. The film will also be available to stream until December 24, 2023, via pbs.org and the PBS App.

Situated within a dark space a person covered in yellow paint squats down in a pool of light, the right knee is touching the ground, the left knee is bent and arm rest at the side. Their eyes appear closed and painted over with black circles, a large branch covered with leaves juts out from behind the figure to loom overhead, their neck is adorned with long pointed pale green leaves. The ground is covered with grayish dirt, pebbles, sticks and leaves, reflecting the light.

Uýra’s story is one of hope and perseverance, reminding us of the power of art to inspire change and transform lives. And thanks to POV and its talented team of filmmakers, her message will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.

 

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