CZFF Recipient: They Killed Sister Dorothy
USA / 2008
JUST MEDIA Productions
Directed by Daniel Junge
Narrated by Martin Sheen
http://www.theykilledsisterdorothy.com/
Winner of the Audience Award at the South by Southwest film festival in 2008, They Killed Sister Dorothy tells the story of a Catholic nun from Dayton, Ohio shot and killed on a muddy road in the Brazilian Amazon, on February 12th, 2005.
Why was this woman murdered? Why did some call her, “the angel of the Amazon?” Who was she a threat to? This documentary follows the courtroom drama that follows, and explores the Wild West atmosphere that pervades the resource rich regions of the Amazon rainforest, where life is cheap and speaking out for the environment is a dangerous act.
A Conflict Zone film Fund grant was awarded to this film in light of its gut wrenching portrayal of life and death in an under-reported conflict zone, as well as the incredible access that the filmmakers attained with a plethora of characters on all sides of the case. The film is a respectful meditation on the life’s work of Sister Dorothy Stang, and a stark illustration of corruption and the fight against it.
