Parasisi

Deep in the Amazon rainforest, on the banks of the Lawa River between Suriname and French Guiana, the Wayana have lived in harmony with the land for centuries. A gold discovery in 1885 brought this peaceful existence to an abrupt end. Outsiders, known as 'parasisi', poison the river through illegal gold mining, missionaries suppress their indigenous identity, and even doctors unwittingly leave behind a quiet, yet violent, legacy. This black-and-white documentary (world premiere at Hot Docs Toronto) follows both the visible disruptions of today and the subtle echoes of the past. Who gets to be 'at home' on their own land?