Encounters with the Other

FAIN: TW-50059-11

Kartemquin Films Ltd. (Chicago, IL 60657-4029)
Maria Finitzo (Project Director: July 2010 to May 2017)

Development of a documentary film examining the indigenous Tsimane people as they transition from a traditional to modern way of life.

Encounters with the Other is a feature length documentary film that will examine the transition from a subsistence life style to the modern ways of life through the lives of the Tsimane' people who live in the lowlands of Bolivia. Encounters with the Other will identify key factors in the Tsimane' society such as preservation of traditional knowledge about the forest and a deep connection to cultural values that appear to be responsible for promoting well- being in the face of massive social change. By following the story of individuals making this transition we will witness first hand the forces of modernization and the dangers Indigenous People face- poverty, illness, and environmental degradation- as they encounter the "other" world. Ultimately we will see how and why preserving a deep connection one's traditional world and culture eases this transition, empowering those who make this journey to live in the modern world on their own terms.