Transamazonia

Rebecca, the daughter of missionary Lawrence Byrne, was declared a “miracle” after she survived a plane crash as a child, deep in the Amazon Forest. Years later, Rebecca, who became a famous healer in the region, and her father find themselves embroiled in an escalating conflict when illegal loggers invade the land belonging to the indigenous people they are evangelizing.

The power of faith can be quite incredible when we witness it at work. That’s especially true when miracles occur involving seemingly hopeless cases, outcomes that often vanquish any remaining doubts among even the most implacable skeptics. And it’s interesting to note that those who wholeheartedly embrace this notion and are then able to make use of it in highly practical ways are often themselves the beneficiaries of such divine grace, as the sole survivor of a plane crash in the Amazon rainforest discovers for herself in this engaging morality play. The young girl who miraculously escapes with her life eventually goes on to become a proficient, effective and renowned faith healer (Helena Zengel) who cures the sick of all manner of health conditions at the remote outpost of her charismatic missionary father (superbly portrayed by Jeremy Xido) in the depths of the Brazilian jungle. But can she have the same kind of impact in areas that go beyond our physical well-being? That question arises when the land of local indigenous residents is illegally impinged upon by avaricious, exploitative loggers, resulting in a contentious conflict into which father and daughter are unwittingly drawn. A complex set of circumstances thus emerges that leaves all concerned potentially compromised, especially when mixed motivations and ambiguous revelations surface. Director Pia Marais’s latest feature thoughtfully explores these questions from a variety of angles, judiciously dispensing the diverse elements of this complicated scenario with even pacing and without ever becoming muddled, an accomplishment that simultaneously and solidly retains viewer interest. The film also shines a bright light on the spectacular grandeur of the Amazon ecosystem, as well as the unconscionable environmental atrocities being committed against it, through visuals that are both stunningly beautiful and truly troubling. Admittedly, there are a few story elements and narrative transitions that could have been handled a tad more skillfully, but, on balance, Marais has otherwise meticulously crafted a fine piece of filmmaking that covers a lot of ground without ever feeling as though the picture is trying to do too much. It gives us much to think about, both as spiritual beings and as stewards of the earth, as well as how these two lines of thought intertwine with one another, providing a holistic look at life and our world from both ethereal and practical standpoints. My expectations for “Transamazonia” were most definitely exceeded, and I’m sure many audience members will come away from this one feeling the same way.