Rediance, a global sales representative headquartered in China, has procured the worldwide distribution rights for the feature documentary “The Falling Sky.” The film, directed by Eryk Rocha and Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha, will have its world premiere at Cannes next month in the Directors Fortnight section.
“The Falling Sky” centers on the Amazonian Yanomami people as its main subjects. Adapted from the book of the same name by Yanomami shaman and leader Davi Kopenawa and French anthropologist Bruce Albert, the film captures the Watorikɨ indigenous community participating in a funeral rite known as reahu. This ritual is a collective effort to support the sky and prevent it from falling, showcasing the unique cultural practices of the Yanomami people.
The documentary serves as a powerful critique of how outsiders, including white prospectors and modern society, have disrupted Yanomami way of life. Through stunning visuals, intricate sound design, and Davi Kopenawa’s profound words about Yanomami cosmology and knowledge importance, “The Falling Sky” delves into Yanomami culture.
This marks Rocha’s tenth feature film and his third appearance at Cannes, where he previously won L’Oeil d’Or Award for “Cinema Novo” in 2016. Carneiro da Cunha, his co-director, is a Brazilian artist, theater director, performer, filmmaker