The Burning Season

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. 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 Raul Julia as Francisco "Chico" Mendes Carmen Argenziano as Alfredo Sezero Sônia Braga as Regina de Carvalho Kamala Lopez as Ilzamar Luis Guzmán as Estate Boss Nigel Havers as Steven Kaye Tomas Milian as Darli Alves Esai Morales as Jair Edward James Olmos as Wilson Pinheiro Roger Cudney as Reporter Awards and nominations