My Foreign Land

For the Suruí, an indigenous people in western Brazil, there was a lot at stake in the 2022 presidential elections. Under incumbent President Bolsonaro, logging and mining companies were given free rein in their territory. His opponent Lula, on the other hand, pledged to protect the Amazon and uphold Indigenous rights.

Tribal leader Almir and his daughter, the young activist Txai Suruí, are each followed during their campaign in the final month before the elections. While Txai travels abroad to raise awareness about the destruction of the rainforest, Almir campaigns across the state of Rondônia, seeking support for his congressional bid.

My Foreign Land is a unique collaboration between acclaimed director João Moreira Salles, co-director Louise Botkay, and Coletivo Lakapoy, an activist group of filmmakers from Rondônia. The collective and Louise Botkay film the tribal leader, while Salles follows his daughter; their phone conversations are shown from both perspectives. The film highlights not only the struggle against capitalism and corruption, but also the importance of representation.