The Film
"The Pygmies have a philosophy which we have lost and need desperately to regain: the belief that the individual is important and that each individual has something to contribute, however small it may seem to others."
FILM INTENTION
The intention of this film is to enlighten the modern and developing societies of the First, Second, and Third World on the struggles faced by Fourth World societies, which are often overlooked or neglected. The Pygmy people of the Congo Basin are one such society. By presenting their history and exposing their modern-day struggles, we seek to both celebrate Pygmy culture and inspire others to mitigate the impacts of modernisation and deforestation not only on the Pygmies and the Congo Basin but our global environment. In documenting these aspects, this film will help to preserve the “dying flame” of Pygmy culture and create a story that is ripe with lessons to be learned.
The film will place the tribal people at the centre of a linear storyline with thoughtful and candid interviews providing meaningful and personal accounts of their struggles both inside and outside the forest, establishing a powerful emotional connection with viewers.
The cinematic image and audio will be produced on top-of-the-line filming cameras and equipment, engaging viewers with an interplay of light and sound and using wide aerial shots down to extremely close-up macro shots. We will highlight the subtle human characteristics. The attention to detail will enhance the sense of familiarity with the characters, ultimately elevating the viewer’s awareness and empathy.
The documentary will illustrate the sharp contrast between the traditional way of life, which is associated with joy, beauty, music, and harmony, and what is fast becoming the modern way of life—subordination, suffering, and gradual destruction of the forest.