Meeting Ancestors
1993 | 00:22:00 | Brazil | Portuguese, Brazil | Color | Stereo | 4:3 | Video
Collection: Single Titles
Tags: Documentary, Expedition/Travel, Indigenous, Post-colonialism


Chief Waiwai recounts for his village the story of a trip he and a small entourage made to meet the Zo’é, a recently contacted group whom the Waiãpi “know” through video. Both groups speak Tupi dialects and share many cultural traditions, but the Zo’é are currently experiencing the phenomena of contact that the Waiãpi underwent 20 years ago. Waiãpi cameraman Kasiripinã illustrates the Waiwai’s account of the trip with video. The Zo’é afford their visitors the chance to re-encounter the way of life and wisdom of their ancestors. The Waiãpi bring information on the dangers of the white world that the Zo’é are eager to understand.
Directed by Vincent Carelli.
In Waiãpi with English subtitles. Spanish subtitled version available.
Prizes + Awards
Sol de Ouŕo (First Prize), 9th Rio Cine Festival, Rio de Janiero, Brazil, 1993
JVC President's Award, 16th Tokyo Video Festival, Tokyo, Japan, 1993
Prix du Cort Métrage, 16éme Festival International de Films Ethnographiques et Sociologiques, Cinéma du Réel, Paris, France, 1994
Best Video, II National Film and Video Festival, Cuiabá, Brazil, 1994
Exhibitions + Festivals
Images Festival of Independant Film and Video (Canada), 1994