Product Description

Dr. Mark Plotkin first traveled to the Amazon twenty years ago seeking a cure for diabetes, the disease that killed his grandmothers. There he found extraordinary biological riches. He found a magical world of shape-shifting shamans who healed with sophisticated plant medicines. In this paradise, the renowned scientist and author met the challenge of his life: how could he save this treasure when each year brought more destruction? Rain forest conservation is a familiar issue to every schoolchild; what is less well known is that the cultures of the jungles are disappearing faster than the forests themselves. Yet the indigenous people of the Amazon, living in these remote regions for millennia, are the only true experts about this vast and little understood region. They employ an amazing array of plants for their survival without disturbing the fragile ecology of the jungle. As Mark Plotkin came to understand, when native knowledge is lost we suffer the immeasurable loss of extinction, both spiritually and scientifically. Beautifully filmed in the distant forests of Suriname, this documentary weaves a compelling and complex tale of rainforest medicine, shamanism, persistence, and passion. The Shaman's Apprentice is a luminous and powerful story of one man's quest to preserve the ancient wisdom of our species.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59979 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-04-15
• Format: NTSC
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 54 minutes

Review
Superb, compelling, definitive. I thought I was clued in to this subject. I was not. Now I am. --E. O. Wilson, Harvard University

Review
Dazzling visuals, cutting edge science and a compelling story make The Shaman's Apprentice a feast for the eyes, the heart, and the mind...one of the most stunning rainforest films ever made. --Ken Cook, President, Environmental Working Group

Review
The entire film is incredibly well done. Since few people will ever have the opportunity to intermingle with native Amazonian peoples, or for that matter, even visit the Amazonian rain forest, the film can instill a good sense of the actual experience. The photography is absolutely first class, the sounds of nature, the music and other audio effects are wonderful, and the overall script is very logical in terms of content and temporal sequence. Plotkin himself, frequently on screen, is a likable character who is reasonably photogenic and a surprisingly good actor. It is easy to identify with the courage and dedication that is required to perform such work. --John M. Pezzuto, Pharmaceutical Biology 2002, Vol. 40. #1

Customer Reviews

The Shaman's Apprentice
"The Shaman's Apprentice" is the remarkable documentary of Mark Plotkin's ethnobotanical adventures and work with shamans in the Amazon rainforest of Suriname. The film is compelling for its insights into the ecology and people of the Amazon, both the indigenous tribes and the maroons--Africans who have adapted to the South American rainforest after fleeing slavery. The Indians over generations have used plants to treat such illnesses as diabetes and fungal infections. The maroons are able to treat sickle cell anemia and many other health problems.

The film is heartbreaking in documenting the loss of tropical rainforests around the world--over half have fallen to saws and fires in the past century. The tribes and knowledge that have been lost are comparable to the destruction of many libraries. Plotkin contrasts western science and medicine with the indigenous tribes that use plants in every aspect of their lives.

"The Shaman's Apprentice" is my all-time documentary film favorite. I urge you to see it! It will change the way you think about the world.

The circle is complete!
I was thrilled to see how the medicine knowledge of the elders is being recorded and supported by people of great vision - Miranda Productions. It's a beautiful documentary of a place in the world where westerners are not only learning valuable teachings from elders but are providing the documentation and continued education of their own people. The circle of shared knowledge is a gift to all.
Thanks for making this interesting and well produced work of art.

The Shaman's Apprentice
I was pleased to see that Mr. Plotkin refused to divulge the information he gathered from the many Shaman to drug companies who were salivating at the prospect of cheap research done over millennia by indigenous people. As it stands (under the GATT trade agreement)drug companies glean this information, synthesize the drugs, and sell them back to indigenous peoples whose rain forests have been cut down to satisfy other commercial exploiters. Mr. Plotkin's plan to educate the Shaman as to the value of their knowledge (before any contact with commercial interests) is commendable.