The Emerald Forest (1985)
John Boorman's provocative adventure drama pits a father's love against the untamed Amazon and the question of what civilization truly means.
The Emerald Forest - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Emerald Forest
- Release Year: 1985
- Directed by: John Boorman
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 54m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English, Portuguese
- Release Date (Theatrical): June 22, 1985 (France - U), June 26, 1985 (United States - R), November 1, 1985 (United Kingdom - 12), November 14, 1985 (Germany - 12), January 16, 1988 (South Korea - 15)
- Alternative Titles: Smaragdenio dasos (GR), Het Smaragdgroene Oerwoud (NL), 애정의 숲 (KR), John Boorman's The Emerald Forest (AU), A Floresta das Esmeraldas (BR), Het smaragden woud (BE)
- Production Companies: Christel Films, Embassy Pictures
- Production Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America
The Emerald Forest - Plot
For ten years, engineer Bill Markham has searched tirelessly for his son Tommy who disappeared from the edge of the Brazilian rainforest. Miraculously, he finds the boy living among the reclusive Amazon tribe who adopted him. And that's when Bill's adventure truly begins. For his son is now a grown tribesman who moves skillfully through this beautiful-but-dangerous terrain, fearful only of those who would exploit it. And as Bill attempts to "rescue" him from the savagery of the untamed jungle, Tommy challenges Bill's idea of true civilization and his notions about who needs rescuing.
The Emerald Forest - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the Amazon come alive on screen:
What kind of man would return year after year for ten years to rescue a missing boy from the most savage jungle in the world? His father.
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The Emerald Forest - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- John Boorman
Main Cast
- Powers Boothe
- Charley Boorman
- Meg Foster
- Estee Chandler
- Dira Paes
- Eduardo Conde
- Ariel Coelho
- Peter Marinker
- Mario Borges
- Yara Vaneau
Writers
- Rospo Pallenberg
Producers
- John Boorman
The Emerald Forest - FAQs
Is The Emerald Forest based on a true story?
Yes, The Emerald Forest is inspired by a true story. It draws from a real-life account of a father who searched for years for his son, taken by an indigenous Amazonian tribe. Screenwriter Rospo Pallenberg adapted the story, grounding it in documented experiences of families and indigenous communities in Brazil.
Where can you stream The Emerald Forest?
The Emerald Forest is available to stream on ScreenPix via the Apple TV Channel and the ScreenPix Amazon Channel, both as flatrate subscriptions. For a full and up-to-date list of streaming, rental, and purchase options in your region, check JustWatch.
Who are the main actors in The Emerald Forest?
The Emerald Forest stars Powers Boothe as engineer Bill Markham and Charley Boorman as his son Tomme, now a young tribesman. Meg Foster plays Jean Markham, Bill's wife. Dira Paes, Eduardo Conde, and Estee Chandler round out the principal cast in this 1985 adventure drama.
What is The Emerald Forest about?
The film follows engineer Bill Markham, who spends a decade searching the Brazilian Amazon for his son Tommy, abducted as a child by an indigenous tribe. When he finally finds Tommy, now a fully initiated tribesman, the reunion forces Bill to question his assumptions about civilization, progress, and who truly needs saving.
Who directed The Emerald Forest?
The Emerald Forest was directed by John Boorman, the acclaimed British filmmaker known for Deliverance (1972) and Excalibur (1981). Boorman also produced the film and notably cast his own son, Charley Boorman, in the pivotal role of Tommy, the boy raised by an Amazonian tribe.
What is the age rating for The Emerald Forest?
The Emerald Forest is rated R in the United States. The film contains scenes of violence, nudity, and mature thematic content related to indigenous culture, exploitation, and survival in the Amazon rainforest. It is not recommended for younger audiences without parental guidance.
How long is The Emerald Forest?
The Emerald Forest has a runtime of 1 hour and 54 minutes (114 minutes). The film was released theatrically in the United States on June 26, 1985, and later in the United Kingdom on November 1, 1985.
What themes does The Emerald Forest explore?
The Emerald Forest explores themes of cultural identity, deforestation, and the clash between industrial civilization and indigenous ways of life. It challenges Western assumptions about progress and savagery, asking whether modern society is truly superior to communities living in harmony with the natural world.
More About The Emerald Forest
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