Curupira

Abstract

“Curupira” was shot along the Javari Valley, the border region of Peru and Brazil. The story follows Arturo, a local riverine, as he paddles through the darkness in pursuit of the elusive Curupira — a mythological creature deeply ingrained in the region's folklore. 

Throughout the film, Arturo unveils Curupira's ambiguous nature and its crucial role in managing the relationship between humans and the fauna and flora. As the narrative progresses, we are offered a glimpse into Arturo's childhood, we learn about the transformation of the forest into maize plantations and aviaries, and the cunning exploitation of the Curupira myth by loggers and hunters to justify and legitimise extraction.

This film is a compelling account of the intricate relationship between culture and ecology in the Amazon region, how environmental transformation is rendered intelligible, and provide  fresh insights into how myths can be co-opted, not least (re)created into new syntheses.

This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (2021.03558.CEECIND/CP1696/CT0002).