Araucaria Araucana...The Story of Earth's Oldest Tree
Friday, June 30, 2017 at 10:25AM Araucaria Araucana...The Story of Earth’s Oldest Tree
High in the Southern Andes, there exists a little-known evergreen that came into being about 200 million years ago. The majestic Pehuén, or Chilean Pine (conifer genus araucaria) can grow up to 40 m/130 ft and live to be over 1,000 years old. Its forests have withstood over the eons a constant upheaval, destruction and rebirth of the planet.
Revered by the indigenous Mapuche Indians, who rely on its large pine nuts (piñons) for food, this living fossil has a remarkable story to tell us, and does so, ‘in his own words’, with the help of our French/Spanish filmmakers and their extraordinary footage.
Also interviewed for this film are noted historians, scientists, Mapuche tribal leaders and members of their tribe. We are made privy to a way of life based on agriculture and traditional beliefs similar to those of Native American Indians, including a social organization consisting of extended families which unite in times of war. They are known for woven textiles, traded for centuries, and for their abilities to make all manner of nutritious sustenance from the piñons of their sacred pine, the ancient Araucaria.
In the course of ‘the film’s 52 minutes, an indelible portrait emerges of a tree, a tribal community, a country, and a legacy intrinsically linked to the rest of our world.
Here is the VideoLibrarian Review
The national tree of Chile and its indigenous people have so far survived volcanic eruptions, Spanish invaders, territorial conflicts, unrestrained logging, forest fires and their recent and most dangerous threat: drought from global warming, which can spark massive conflagration and change in the delicate balance between man and nature.
View Trailer Here:
ARAUCARIA ARAUCANA_TRAILER_1080_EN.MP4 from sarasotafringefilms on Vimeo.
Originally created as a co-production with the distinguished and famed international Ushuaïa television network, this ravishingly beautiful documentary is essential viewing, not only for students of Film, Natural History, Political Science, Anthropology, Ecology, Biology etcetera, but for anyone interested in the future of Planet Earth.
Purchase Options for Araucaria Araucana:
NOTE: Araucaria Araucana is also now available on KANOPY
If your system is not PayPal “friendly”, we will accept your purchase order or send you an invoice payable by check or credit card. For details on purchase orders, please contact: nagle.patrick@gmail.com
A Note About Our Academic and Institutional Pricing
Educational DVD with PPR: $150
Anytime you want to screen a film on campus, Public Performance Rights (PPR) needs to be obtained. Copyright law (USC 17§101) defines a public performance as occurring in a public space or if it is in any place if "a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its acquaintances" is gathered there. This would include classrooms, meeting rooms, auditoriums, dorm lounges, etc. However, copyright law (USC 17§110) also provides an exception for face-to-face teaching activities in a nonprofit educational institution.
Digital Site License with PPR: $200
A DSL grants educational institutions and/or non-profit organizations a LIFE OF FILE license to host and stream a film online to students, faculty and staff on their password-protected server. This license is granted for three years. The key advantage of purchasing a DSL is that once uploaded, an unlimited number of viewers can access the film from multiple locations simultaneously.
DVD + DSL bundle PPR: $225
K-12, Non-profit, Public Library with PPR: $62.50
Collectable Personal DVD or File Download: $24.50