The Burning Season (1994 film)

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The Burning Season
The Burning Season.jpg
GenreBiography
Drama
Based onThe Burning Season
by Andrew Revkin
Screenplay by William Mastrosimone
Michael Tolkin
Ron Hutchinson
Story byWilliam Mastrosimone
Directed by John Frankenheimer
Starring Raul Julia
Carmen Argenziano
Sônia Braga
Kamala Lopez-Dawson
Luis Guzmán
Edward James Olmos
Music by Gary Chang
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producer David Puttnam
ProducersJohn Frankenheimer
Thomas M. Hammel
Grazia Rade
Grazka Taylor
Production location Mexico
Cinematography John R. Leonetti
Editors
Running time123 minutes
Production company HBO Pictures
Original release
Network HBO
ReleaseSeptember 16, 1994 (1994-09-16)

The Burning Season is a 1994 American made-for-television biographical drama film directed by John Frankenheimer. The film chronicles environmental activist Chico Mendes' fight to protect the Amazon rainforest. This was Raul Julia's last film released during his lifetime, premiering on HBO on September 16, 1994, five weeks before his death. The film was based in part on the 1990 book of the same name by journalist Andrew Revkin.

Contents

Plot

Chico Mendes was a Brazilian rubber tapper, unionist and environmental activist who was murdered in 1988 by ranchers opposed to his activism. The movie opens in 1951 with a young Mendes witnessing his father's interaction with corrupt ranchers who are exploiting peasants for their work. The bulk of the film then takes place between 1983 and 1988, showing Mendes' activism to preserve the Amazon rainforest, to his murder in a drive-by shooting by a disgruntled rancher waiting in the shadows.

Cast

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
1995
American Cinema Editors Awards Best Edited Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television Françoise Bonnot
and Paul Rubell
Won [1]
Artios Awards Best Casting for TV Movie of the WeekJunie Lowry-JohnsonNominated [2]
CableACE Awards Movie or Miniseries David Puttnam,
John Frankenheimer,
Thomas M. Hammel,
Diane Batson-Smith,
and Ron Hutchinson
Nominated [3]
Actor in a Movie or Miniseries Raul Julia Won [lower-alpha 1]
Directing a Movie or MiniseriesJohn FrankenheimerWon
Editing a Dramatic Special or Series/Theatrical Special/Movie or MiniseriesFrançoise BonnotNominated
Environmental Media Awards Made for Television MovieWon [4]
Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Won [5]
Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Raul JuliaWon [lower-alpha 1]
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Edward James Olmos Won
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Sônia Braga Nominated
Humanitas Prize PBS/Cable Television William Mastrosimone,
Michael Tolkin, and
Ron Hutchinson
Won [6]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Made for Television Movie David Puttnam,
John Frankenheimer,
Thomas M. Hammel,
and Diane Batson-Smith
Nominated [7]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special Raul JuliaWon [lower-alpha 1]
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special Edward James OlmosNominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special Sônia BragaNominated
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or a Special John FrankenheimerWon
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Special William Mastrosimone,
Michael Tolkin, and
Ron Hutchinson
Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries Raul JuliaWon [lower-alpha 1] [8]

Notes

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References

  1. "Nominees/Winners". IMDb . Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  2. "1995 Artios Awards". Casting Society of America. October 11, 1995. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  3. Margulies, Lee (September 20, 1995). "HBO Leads the Pack With 89 CableACE Nominations: Television: Nods for 'Larry Sanders,' 'Dream On' push network ahead of Showtime, which garners 36". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  4. "EMA Awards – Past Recipients & Honorees". Environmental Media Awards . Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  5. "The Burning Season". Golden Globe Awards . Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  6. "Past Winners & Nominees". Humanitas Prize . Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  7. "The Burning Season". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  8. "The Inaugural Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards . Retrieved March 10, 2023.