After an excellent talk and screening at London Globetrotters earlier in the year, Sarah tells Globe magazine about her dreams, her adventures and the results of her groundbreaking film.
I stared at the blackboard in total fascination. Then back at the textbook. The words, “Amazon Rainforest” overlapped the thoughts in my mind. The seed of a dream had been planted and I had no idea what was to come 12 years later… At nine years old, I was learning about deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest and how it affected the tribes living there. Instantly, I felt a connection to the jungle and its people. I had ever since fantasized about visiting the Amazon and sometimes in the night, I would experience visions of tribes people calling me.
At the age of 21, I was studying Filmmaking at Kingston University but I didn’t want a career that would fade into oblivion, so I took fate into my own hands. I quit my job, used all my savings, found a tribe that still practise ancient traditions, hired a Cinematographer and a Sound/Boom Operator and headed out to make my first film in the Amazon Rainforest.
I was lying on the canoe, staring up into the clear blue sky and wondering what life with the Huaorani would be like. Already I had passed some oil fields on my way, and the deforestation images from my childhood sprung to mind. Unable to stop, I wondered if we were going to enter a big patch of nothing amongst dense forest? Or did they live in a magical jungle from a mythical world full of wondrous species existing in an emerald green paradise? I had no idea what to expect.
As the canoe stopped at the village, I stared up at the Huao community staring back at me with smiles spread across their faces. A truly tribal welcome. I trudged up the thick muddy hill to greet one of the women and caught sight of my first fully naked Huaorani man – Kemperi, a shaman. He had only a string made out of the hammock leaf fibres tied around his waist.
I was challenged in every imaginable way to immerse fully into the Huaorani culture from weaving hammocks and gathering food in the forest with the women, to making blowguns and hunting with the warriors. With nerves flying frantically all over the place at first, I settled, found deep respect for their ancient traditions and even chose to strip my western identity to fully become like one of them.
Walking through the forest with the women seemed like such a magical journey; a quest back in time to glimpse the world at its most pristine state. I felt my dream had come true and that I had finally found freedom, walking through such natural wonder and breathing in this air. I was secretly hoping to stay there forever. The Huaorani women gathered their food and resources in the jungle with an effortless elegance – everything they need exists in the forest. From collecting plant fibres to make their hammocks and fishnets to cultivating yucca for food, this was definitely the Huaorani Super Store! To think that the destruction of these forests exists not only in the Amazon, but in jungles around the world is horrific.
My time with the Huaorani was definitely the most defining experience of my life. For that, I vowed to be their messenger forever and spread their message through my film and in whatever way I can, to teach people about what is truly important in life. Before I had to force myself to get on the plane back to civilization, I promised them that I would return and show them the film. My mission is to make that return possible and to complete the film by documenting their current situation, which will in effect become, “Amazon Souls part 2”. Now, I need all the help I can get to make this happen!
Amazon Souls was premiered at Cannes Film Festival, shown at the Sheffield Doc/Fest Videoteque, Native Spirit Festival, Sanctum Cinema, Globetrotters Club followed by Sarah’s talk and has been endorsed by Celebrity TV Presenter and Adventurer Bear Grylls as well as support from Sky Rainforest Rescue, Rainforest Alliance and Rainforest Concern. Currently with a sales agents Spier Films, Amazon Souls is aiming to be available to the public by either broadcast, series commission or an online platform.
Please follow Sarah Begum’s work and the progress of Amazon Souls and share these links and stories with everyone to help her raise awareness of the film, the tribe, the issues and the stories interlinking them all. Check out Sarah’s website www.sarahbegum.tv and why not befriend her on facebook www.facebook.com/sarahbegumtv and twitter @Sarah_
To find out more about her film, check out facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmazonSouls twitter: @Amazon_Souls and take a look at the trailer here
https://www.youtube.com/embed/VeCOSCyhfqg
For the full version of this article, check out the next issue of Globe magazine.
If you are in London and would like to see Sarah speak…