The Territory (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Territory is a 2022 documentary directed by Alex Pritz, starring Bitaté Uru Eu Wau Wau and Neidinha Bandeira. It runs 1 hour 23 minutes and earned $87,250 worldwide. Critics gave it 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 83 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 23m (83 min)
- Director
- Alex Pritz
- Genre
- Documentary
- Original language
-
Portuguese
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Territory About?
The premise of The Territory without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Deep within the Brazilian Amazon, the Uru-eu-wau-wau Indigenous people face a daunting challenge as deforestation threatens their ancestral lands. This documentary offers a powerful look at their fight against illegal logging and land grabbing, showcasing their daily struggles and unwavering determination. Through stunning visuals and immersive sound, audiences are drawn into the heart of the conflict, witnessing the community's courageous efforts to protect their way of life and expose the truth about the destruction of the rainforest.
The Territory Themes & Keywords
· 13 tags- social documentary
- brazil
- amazon rainforest
- farmer
- farm
- rainforest
- environmental documentary
- forest
- jungle
- indigenous people
- indigenous rights
- land dispute
+1 more Show fewer
- 2020s
The Territory Cast
Bitaté Uru Eu Wau Wau leads the cast, with Neidinha Bandeira. Directed by Alex Pritz.
-
Director Alex Pritz
-
Bitaté Uru Eu Wau Wau as themselves -
Neidinha Bandeira as themselves
The Territory Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Territory 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 83 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 78/100, strongest in character & emotion (84) and weakest in story & flow (66).
The Territory Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, The Territory delivers a compelling documentary experience that balances visual impact with urgent subject matter. Critics and viewers alike commend its striking cinematography and thoughtful presentation of Indigenous perspectives, while noting the film’s heavy tone and familiar narrative structure. The emotional resonance of the tribal leaders and the stark depiction of deforestation reinforce its significance. Though some find the pacing deliberate to a fault, the film’s earnest advocacy and strong sensory elements sustain engagement. Consequently, it stands as a noteworthy, if occasionally somber, contribution to environmental filmmaking.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 78
In terms of art and craft, the documentary showcases striking widescreen cinematography and purposeful composition that emphasize the Amazon’s scale. The visual palette shifts from intimate first‑person shots to expansive aerial mapping, reinforcing the narrative’s urgency. Editing maintains a measured rhythm, though occasional lingering sequences contribute to a somber pacing. Overall, the film’s visual execution strengthens its thematic impact.
- Character & Emotion 84
When evaluating character and emotion, the film foregrounds the articulate teenage leader Bitaté and other tribe members, offering nuanced portrayals that convey resilience and vulnerability. Performances from both Indigenous participants and external actors convey authentic tension, fostering empathetic connections. The emotional arcs are sustained throughout, enhancing viewer investment in the community’s plight.
- Story & Flow 66
The documentary’s story presents a familiar framework of environmental exploitation, which some reviewers find predictable. Nevertheless, the chronological interweaving of personal testimonies and satellite imagery creates a coherent progression that underscores systemic injustice. Pacing remains deliberate, occasionally risking monotony, yet the overarching narrative maintains urgency by linking local struggle to global climate concerns.
- Sensory Experience 82
The sensory experience combines a resonant score with immersive sound design that accentuates forest ambience and distant machinery, heightening tension. Visual treatment alternates between vibrant close‑ups of tribal life and stark aerial depictions of deforestation, reinforcing thematic contrasts. This cohesive audio‑visual strategy amplifies the documentary’s emotional weight.
- Rewatch Factor 71
Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s compelling testimonies and stark visual evidence encourage repeated viewings to fully grasp its complexities. While its somber tone may deter some, the enduring relevance of the Indigenous struggle and the documentary’s informative depth sustain interest over time. Consequently, it holds moderate lasting appeal.
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IMDb 7.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 97% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 82%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 83 Metascore
User score 7.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 71% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.9 /5
17 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.5 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Territory Plot Summary
What happens in The Territory from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 16 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
This documentary explores the struggle of the Uru-eu-wau-wau, an Amazonian tribe that first made contact with the Brazilian government in 1980. Once numbering in the thousands, the population has dwindled to just 200 people. The story follows Bitaté Uru Eu Wau Wau, an 18-year-old who is appointed as the tribe’s leader to coordinate defenses against settlers using slash-and-burn tactics to seize land. Alongside him is Neidinha Bandeira, a dedicated human rights and environmental activist working to bring political attention to the tribe’s plight.
Full summary
The whole story of The Territory, scene by scene
The Territory Box Office
The Territory grossed $87,250 worldwide. $69,316 came from the US and Canada and $17,934 (21%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$87.3K
- US & Canada
- $69.3K
- International
- $17.9K
The Territory Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Territory.
How Well Do You Know The Territory?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What type of film is 'The Territory'?
The Territory Also Known As
12 alternative titles, including “亚马逊雨林保卫战” and “O Território”.
- Also known as
-
- 亚马逊雨林保卫战
- O Território
- 아마존의 수호자
- 领地
- El territorio
- La forêt amazonienne : notre terre
- היער המוגן
- Terytorium
- Teritorium
- Amazonas: territorio límite
- Teritórium
- 亞馬遜雨林保衛戰
Seen The Territory?
Movies Like The Territory
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Last Forest, The Hills of Disorder and When Two Worlds Collide.
The Territory FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of The Territory, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Territory?
The Territory runs 1 hour 23 minutes (83 minutes).
When was The Territory released?
The Territory was released on August 19, 2022.
Who directed The Territory?
The Territory was directed by Alex Pritz.
Who is in the cast of The Territory?
The Territory stars Bitaté Uru Eu Wau Wau and Neidinha Bandeira.
How much did The Territory make at the box office?
The Territory grossed $87,250 worldwide ($69,316 domestic, $17,934 international).
How is The Territory rated?
The Territory has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 83 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.
Does The Territory have a post-credit scene?
No. The Territory has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is The Territory in?
The original language of The Territory is Portuguese.
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