In 2008, a documentary entitled “World’s Most Dangerous Roads: Deadliest Journeys in Brazil” was released to raise awareness about the dangerous lives of river dwellers like 14 year old Jesse.
Although he has only been alive for fourteen years, Jesse is an experienced riverman, having learned to swim and paddle before he could walk. With the help of other children as young as five, he spends hours everyday rowing his tiny canoe alongside the faster moving tourist boats in hopes of earning a few pennies for his family by selling jungle delicacies. But even with all this experience, danger still lurks on every corner and one day while filming this documentary, Jesse pushed his luck too far.
The documentary follows Jesse and other riberinhos as they navigate through the treacherous waves and unpredictable waters of the Amazon rainforest. It brings viewers along their journey and allows them to experience their struggles and triumphs firsthand. For anyone who wants to understand the hardships faced by these brave people and learn more about the Brazilian landscape, this film is an absolute must-watch!
