Directed by Oscar winner Orlando von Einsiedel (The White Helmets, Virunga), with Colombian Jorge Durán and British-Peruvian Lali Houghton, this is the amazing survival story of the Mucutuy siblings, and the heroic quest to bring them home.
Four Indigenous children, ages 13, 9, 4 years, and 11 months are forced to survive 40 days in the Colombian jungle after a tragic plane crash kills their mother, and the other adults on board. This documentary features first-hand testimonies and extraordinary archive material from those who risked their lives to search for them, including the Colombian Army, Indigenous volunteer rescuers, and the children’s family.
The Lost Children is a dramatic story that celebrates human endeavor, teamwork, and Indigenous knowledge, unraveling the mysteries of the Amazon rainforest.
“It’s always crucial to treat stories involving painful human tragedy with the deep respect and sensitivity they deserve. I was drawn to this particular narrative because it was clear that within it were many glimpses of incredible human resilience and strength - not only the children’s battle to survive in the forest alone but also the way in which Indigenous rescuers and the military were able to overcome their mutual mistrust and fear to unite in a dangerous and epic mission to rescue the children”, said Orlando von Einsiedel.
The Lost Children:
Release date: November 14, 2024
Production Company: a Grain Media production in collaboration with Caracol Televisión, Imagine Documentaries, Teletigre, One Day’s Walk
Directed by: Orlando von Einsiedel
Co-directed by: Jorge Durán and Lali Houghton
Producer: Marta Shaw
Executive producers: Gonzalo Córdoba, José María Reyes, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, Mark Bauch, Natalia Echeverri, Chloe Leland, Adam Mitchenall.
Editor: Katie Bryer
Co-Editor: Samuel R Santana
Original Music: Patrick Jonsson
Music Consultant: Simón Mejía
Directors of photography: Franklin Dow, Mauricio Vidal
Co-Producer: Stefano Pozzebon, Jamie Berry, Richard Turley
Production Executives: Gloria Luz Arenas, Caroline Willis
Synopsis:
After a small plane crashes, four Indigenous children lost and alone in the Colombian Amazon jungle, rely on their ancestral wisdom to survive as an unprecedented rescue mission unfolds.
Directed by Oscar winner Orlando von Einsiedel, with Colombian Jorge Durán and British-Peruvian Lali Houghton, this documentary tells the incredible story from the point of view of the people involved in the epic rescue: the Colombian Army, Indigenous volunteer rescuers, and the children's family.