The Burning Season is a 1994 American made-for-television biographical drama film directed by John Frankenheimer. The film chronicles environmental activist Chico Mendes' fight to protect the Amazon rainforest. This was Raul Julia's last film released during his lifetime, premiering on HBO on September 16, 1994, five weeks before his death. The film was based in part on the 1990 book of the same name by journalist Andrew Revkin.
Plot Chico Mendes was a Brazilian rubber tapper, unionist and environmental activist who was murdered in 1988 by ranchers opposed to his activism. The movie opens in 1951 with a young Mendes witnessing his father's interaction with corrupt ranchers who are exploiting peasants for their work. The bulk of the film then takes place between 1983 and 1988, showing Mendes' activism to preserve the Amazon rainforest, to his murder in a drive-by shooting by a disgruntled rancher waiting in the shadows.
Cast Raul Julia as Francisco "Chico" Mendes Carmen Argenziano as Alfredo Sezero Sônia Braga as Regina de Carvalho Kamala Lopez as Ilzamar Luis Guzmán as Estate Boss Nigel Havers as Steven Kaye Tomas Milian as Darli Alves Esai Morales as Jair Edward James Olmos as Wilson Pinheiro Roger Cudney as Reporter
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref. American Cinema Editors Awards Best Edited Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television Françoise Bonnot and Paul Rubell Artios Awards Best Casting for TV Movie of the Week Junie Lowry-Johnson CableACE Awards Movie or Miniseries David Puttnam, John Frankenheimer, Thomas M. Hammel, Diane Batson-Smith, and Ron Hutchinson Actor in a Movie or Miniseries Raul Julia Directing a Movie or Miniseries John Frankenheimer Editing a Dramatic Special or Series/Theatrical Special/Movie or Miniseries Françoise Bonnot Environmental Media Awards Made for Television Movie Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Raul Julia Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Edward James Olmos Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Sônia Braga Humanitas Prize PBS/Cable Television William Mastrosimone, Michael Tolkin, and Ron Hutchinson Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Made for Television Movie David Puttnam, John Frankenheimer, Thomas M. Hammel, and Diane Batson-Smith Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special Raul Julia Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special Edward James Olmos Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special Sônia Braga Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or a Special John Frankenheimer Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Special William Mastrosimone, Michael Tolkin, and Ron Hutchinson Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries Raul Julia
Notes
References
External links
The Burning Season: The Murder of Chico Mendes and the Fight for the Amazon Rain Forest (1990 Mendes biography by Andrew Revkin)