Patrol

A lush green canopy of tropical vegetation stretches out as far as the eye can see along the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, home to the Rama and Kriol peoples who have coexisted in this land for centuries. But among the cavorting monkeys, swooping macaws, stealthy jaguars, and mud-loving tapirs of this rainforest is a nefarious invasive species heedlessly destroying the region’s fragile balance: cattle ranchers. Despite holding territorial rights, the Rama-Kriol are on their own against this threat to not only their way of life but also to an entire ecosystem. Ranchers claim the land illegally, raising cattle to meet the insatiable demand of the international beef market and leaving behind a landscape of ruinous scabs that will take decades to heal. Shot in eye-opening widescreen, this documentary conveys the full scope of what stands to be lost and the urgency of the Rama-Kriols’ mission, as they gather evidence to compel the Nicaraguan government to act. (Mill Valley Film Festival)