A hazardous expedition to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, filmed in 1996, becomes a cultural and moral minefield in Amazomania, a thought-provoking documentary in which Swedish director Nathan Grossman (I Am Greta, Climate in Therapy) explores the white man’s gaze and turns the camera on colonial legacy and the film itself.
The documentary will have its world premiere in the main competition of the 23rd edition of CPH:DOX, the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, on Monday, March 16.
The film is structured in two parts. The first rewinds the tapes of the 1996 trip, organized by a Brazilian civil servant and Swedish journalist Erling Söderström, to meet the Korubo tribe, who live in isolation. The expedition resulted in a first encounter, with the footage initially hailed as a sensation.
The second part of Amazomania follows Söderström’s return to the tribe 30 years later. This trip did not go as planned, revealing a profound misunderstanding. The Korubo tribe demands compensation and insists on the right to inform its own story.
Nathan Grossman directed the film, produced by Cecilia Nessen, with cinematography by Grossman, Söderström and Diego Lajst. Jordana Berg and Grossman served as editors. Autlook Filmsales is handling sales.
The resurfaced footage “forces the re-examination of the contact and the implications that followed,” and “uncovering the costs of ‘discovery,’ the film confronts the colonial legacy and exposes the long-term repercussions for the Korubo.”
Grossman collaborated with representatives from the Korubo community during the final edit of the film in late 2025, incorporating their input and arguments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Amazomania about?
Amazomania is a documentary that examines a 1996 expedition to meet the Korubo tribe in the Amazon rainforest, and the repercussions of that contact, both at the time and when revisited 30 years later.
Who directed Amazomania?
Nathan Grossman directed Amazomania. He is also known for directing I Am Greta and Climate in Therapy.
What did the Korubo tribe consider of the original expedition?
The film reveals that the Korubo tribe initially believed the camera used by the expedition team was a gun. The film explores the tribe’s feelings about the Western media and the impact of the initial contact.
As audiences increasingly question the narratives presented to them, what responsibility do filmmakers have to ensure their work reflects a multitude of perspectives?
