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The Burning Season
GenreBiography
Drama
Based onThe Burning Season
by Andrew Revkin
Screenplay byWilliam Mastrosimone
Michael Tolkin
Ron Hutchinson
Story byWilliam Mastrosimone
Directed byJohn Frankenheimer
StarringRaul Julia
Carmen Argenziano
Sônia Braga
Kamala Lopez-Dawson
Luis Guzmán
Edward James Olmos
Music byGary Chang
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerDavid Puttnam
ProducersJohn Frankenheimer
Thomas M. Hammel
Grazia Rade
Grazka Taylor
Diane Batson-Smith (co-producer)
Production locationMexico
CinematographyJohn R. Leonetti
Editors
Running time123 minutes
Production companyHBO Pictures
Original release
NetworkHBO
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.

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

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
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 Week Junie Lowry-Johnson Nominated [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[a]
Directing a Movie or Miniseries John Frankenheimer Won
Editing a Dramatic Special or Series/Theatrical Special/Movie or Miniseries Françoise Bonnot Nominated
Environmental Media Awards Made for Television Movie Won [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 Julia Won[a]
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 Julia Won[a]
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special Edward James Olmos Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special Sônia Braga Nominated
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or a Special John Frankenheimer Won
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 Julia Won[a] [8]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Posthumous award.

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.

External links

Works directed by John Frankenheimer
Golden Globe Award for Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film
Categories