On April 19, the Opera of Monte-Carlo will lift the curtain on NAWA SIA, The Secrets of the Amazon, a film-documentary that promises to plunge audiences into the vibrant world of the Amazon’s indigenous tribes. Directed by Isabella Vieira, who carries the Amazonian name “Nawa Sia” (Star of Truth), this groundbreaking work—backed by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation—blends stunning visuals with a urgent call to protect the planet’s “green lung.”
Vieira, born into an indigenous Amazonian lineage, brings a deeply personal touch to the project. “I grew up with these stories, these lands in my blood,” she says, recalling how the film’s images haunted her dreams for two years before she set out to capture them. The result is a raw, spiritual journey into the traditions and wisdom of tribes like the Huni Kuin, who face deforestation, resource loss, and cultural erosion daily. “The Amazon whispered this to me—through nature, through the spirits,” Vieira adds.
The premiere, timed with Brazil’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day, doubles as a tribute to Chief Bené of the Huni Kuin, who died 26 days after filming ended. To honour him and the Amazon’s guardians, the Casino de Monte-Carlo’s facade will glow in jungle hues, casting a symbolic spotlight on the event. Inside the Opera, the experience will deepen: jungle sounds, earthy scents, and dim lighting will envelop the audience, tuned to 432 Hz—a frequency said to echo nature’s pulse. A shaman will join the night, weaving rituals that bridge Monaco to the forest’s soul.
The Prince Albert II Foundation, a Monaco mainstay for nearly two decades, champions the film’s eco-mission. “The Amazon’s balance is crumbling,” says CEO Olivier Wenden. “This work amplifies the voices of its protectors, like the Huni Kuin, who keep it alive.” The Foundation’s Forests and Communities initiative, launched in 2022, aligns with Vieira’s vision, pushing for a healthier rainforest through local collaboration.
For Vieira, bringing NAWA SIA to Monaco is a bold move. “If its call echoes here, in a place of influence, the ripples could be huge,” she says. Shot intuitively, with nature as her guide, the film defies convention—less a script, more a living testament. On April 19, Monaco’s elite stage will host this sensory plunge, urging viewers to not just watch, but feel the Amazon’s fragile majesty and act to save it.
