Stepping Softly on the Earth

In the documentary "Pisar Suavemente na Terra," three Indigenous leaders from the Amazon try to keep their ways of being in the world alive. This is the story of Kátia, chief of the Akrãtikatêjê people, of Manuel, chief of the Munduruku people and of José Manuyama, a teacher of Kokama origin. The three narrate the threats to their territories promoted by large-scale mining, monoculture, oil extraction, logging and the construction of hydroelectric plants. Interconnected by the voice and ancestral thoughts of Ailton Krenak, these accounts of resistance present us with other ways of existing and walking in the world.

Directed by Marcos Colón, Stepping Softly on the Earth leans on a strong ensemble — Katia Akrãtikatêjê, Ailton Krenak, José Manuyama — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2022.