2009, Brazil. During a news broadcast in the Amazon, a reporter asks a young Indigenous woman what her wish for the future is. The woman, Juma Xipaia, smiles and replies, “Fighting for the indigenous cause. Standing up for my people, who mean everything to me in this life. I live for them and die for them. My life is going to be one of struggle.” Years later, Juma has asserted herself as a determined environmental warrior — the first female Indigenous chief of her people in the Middle Xingu — and a fearless advocate against exploitation by landowners and multinational corporations. Having survived six assassination attempts, Juma continues her steadfast commitment to her community and her fight against the seizing of Indigenous lands, as the political landscape in Brazil shifts from Bolsonaro-era suppression to President Lula’s progressive environmental battles. The more fiercely outspoken Juma is — alongside her husband Hugo, a Special Forces Unit ranger — the starker the socio-political conflict becomes. The courageous Juma and Hugo navigate dangerous circumstances while coming to terms with becoming expecting parents, furthering the stakes for their livelihoods and the livelihood of Indigenous people. 

From producer Leonardo DiCaprio and director Richard Ladkani, the riveting YANUNI unfolds like a tense thriller and with remarkable access, as it kinetically showcases the risks that Indigenous activists incur in their fight for sovereignty and environmental justice.—Jose Rodriguez

Richard Ladkani