Isabella Vieira is the visionary behind Nawa Sia – The Secrets of Amazonia, a documentary that explores the deep bond between the Amazon rainforest and the Huni Kuin Indigenous people. The film underscores the urgent need to protect the forest and its untapped medicinal potential while sharing the ancient wisdom of its guardians.
Monaco resident Isabella Vieira, born in Brazil, is the Director and Producer of Nawa Sia – The Secrets of Amazonia, whose trailer was presented in the Principality on 10th September. She managed to assemble a team of young people who are passionate about the environment, film, and spirituality to give life to an inspiring story about the rainforests and its people, and the need to protect them, as well as an introduction to the untapped source of medicine of the jungle.
Through the elders’ teachings, the film explores the vital connection between man and nature and unveils the secrets of the guardians of wisdom. The Huni Kuin Indigenous people live in a shared territory between Brazil and Peru. They are immersed in and interconnected to the majestic Amazon rainforest and resist years of exploitation and persecution. Combining images, sounds, aromas, vibrations, and musical compositions, the film creates a holistic experience.
Monaco Life Features Journalist Celina Lafuente de Lavotha had an interesting conversation with Isabella Vieira, learning about her professional holistic journey, the passion and inspiration that helped her conceive the documentary, the challenges she faced in producing it, and her goal to premiere the film in Monaco early next year.
Monaco Life: Please tell us where you are from and what brought you to the Principality.
Isabella Vieira: My name is Isabella Vieira, but I am also known as Nawa Sia in my Huni Kuin indigenous tribe. The Huni Kuin, also known as the Kaxinawas, are a resilient and deeply spiritual people who have lived in harmony with the Amazon rainforest for centuries. Although I was not born in the Amazon rainforest, my ancestors lived there, and this deep connection to our heritage guides my role as an ambassador to showcase our ancestral culture worldwide.
I come from a modest family in Brazil, and my holistic approach to well-being, inspired by a sacred connection with nature, has led me to work with high-level athletes. I have developed an innovative Holistic Protocol, designed to integrate performance with inner balance, tailored explicitly for high-level sports people. I moved to Monaco, where many of my clients reside, and I recently established my company here to better serve their needs and continue my mission with a local presence, offering personalised support while honouring my cultural roots and continuing to promote my unique approach to wellness.
What is your professional background, and how did you become interested in filmmaking?
My professional journey is deeply rooted in a unique blend of spirituality, health, and wellness, shaped from a young age by spiritual teachings. Immersed in ancient wisdom, I learned to live in harmony with nature and to use this knowledge to guide others toward profound balance. This calling naturally led me to the field of well-being, mainly working with elite athletes.
The world of high-level sports is one where pressure is constant, requiring recovery beyond the physical to include mental and energetic rejuvenation. Athletes, faced with rigorous discipline and high expectations, often suffer from muscular pain, sleep disturbances, and emotional imbalances. My role is to guide them through a holistic regeneration process, allowing them to restore their inner balance and regain renewed vitality.
I have worked with Formula 1 drivers, Brazilian football players, and internationally renowned tennis players. By incorporating practices such as energy replenishment through nature, conscious breathing, meditation, and visualisation, I help these athletes transcend the limits imposed by pressure and reconnect with their inner strength. This innovative approach establishes a sacred link between body and mind, enabling them to face challenges with revitalised energy and renewed serenity.
My interest in filmmaking emerged from a deep desire to share this spiritual and cultural richness with the world. As an art form, cinema offers a powerful platform to transcend words and convey deep emotions and unique vibrations. Through this film, I aim to create immersive works that capture the essence of this holistic approach. Cinema thus becomes a therapeutic tool for revealing enriching and transformative perspectives, providing the audience with a sensory and emotional experience that resonates deeply with inner balance and the human experience.
What inspired you to make this documentary?
The creation of ‘Nawa Sia – Secrets of the Amazon’ arises from my role as an apprentice shaman and my deep commitment to honouring everything the forest has bestowed upon me. I feel a profound responsibility to protect and share the ancestral traditions of the Huni Kuin, which are now at risk. This ancient wisdom is threatened by increasing assaults on our forest: illegal resource exploitation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss endanger the Amazonian ecosystem and the traditional knowledge that has maintained harmony between humans and nature for centuries.
My goal is to illuminate and celebrate my culture, sharing this invaluable knowledge with the world while working to preserve it. The funds raised will support the establishment of a university to impart ancestral wisdom to young shamans and a school for indigenous children, offering education deeply rooted in their culture and environment. I want to give back what the forest has given me, ensuring that this wisdom and balance are preserved for future generations.
Can you describe your creative process and tell us about your team?
My inventiveness is rooted in a blend of meditation and intuitive listening, along with the unique synergy of my team. Given that I don’t come from a film background, I let my intuition guide the creation of this film, allowing my instinct to take over where a traditional script might have been used. My meditation practice helps me connect with subtle insights, guiding my creative vision and helping me assemble a team aligned with these insights.
Furthermore, I firmly believe that creativity thrives through collaboration. That’s why I chose passionate, self-taught professionals, each bringing their strengths to the table. For instance, my Director of Photography Israël Kamkhadji has been essential in translating my visions into powerful visuals. Videographer Liam Fabre has brought invaluable authenticity through his courage to explore the Amazon with me. At the same time, my sound engineer, Martial, enhances the film by transforming the sound into a 432 Hz frequency. Our process is highly collaborative, with a synergy that fuels creativity. This harmony ensures that the final product truly reflects our shared vision. Talented and passionate individuals, even without traditional film training, can achieve extraordinary things when their collaboration is guided by the correct energies.
What were the most challenging aspects of making this film?
Turning a spiritual and intuitive experience into a cinematic work was the most significant challenge. As a holistic therapist, I work with natural elements, energies, and vibrations, and it was complex to transform this invisible world into a film that is both engaging and accessible. Additionally, managing such an ambitious project independently, with a team of unconventional talents, required immense determination. Throughout the journey, I felt guided by my intuition and my ancestors. Even though this concept was complex to grasp logically, my team trusted in my vision.
The trip to the tribe was gruelling: an entire day spent in a small boat under stifling heat and overwhelming humidity. Upon arrival, the living conditions were extremely basic. We worked without electricity or internet, relying solely on solar panels to charge our equipment, and overcast days made it even more challenging. The lack of water was another significant difficulty, and I had to speed up the filming to overcome these limitations. On-site conditions were primary: we slept in hammocks, surrounded by insects like mosquitoes, lice, bedbugs, and spiders. The intense heat and lack of hygiene made every moment challenging. Every step had to be taken carefully to avoid hidden dangers in the jungle. Despite these challenges, every success was gratifying, reinforcing my determination and admiration for this extraordinary region. These obstacles were crucial in creating a robust and authentic film that stayed true to my mission as a holistic therapist and my intuition.
What conventions does the documentary incorporate? Does it use voiceover, re-enactments, archival footage, and interviews?
The documentary begins with a cinematic style inspired by a true story, immediately capturing the audience’s attention. It then transitions to a more introspective documentary format, using voiceover narration to delve deeply into the protagonist’s reflections on the meaning of life and their personal mission. This narration is crucial for revealing the protagonist’s inner dilemmas and existential questions.
Although the film does not use archival footage, its shift from cinematic storytelling to introspective exploration highlights a universal desire to break free from daily routines, search for one’s roots, and embark on a personal journey. ‘Nawa Sia’ goes beyond traditional film documentary conventions by engaging all five senses to explore the profound relationship between humans and nature. By combining the wisdom of the Huni Kuin people with voiceover narration, the film creates an immersive experience that illustrates how a deep connection to nature can enrich human existence. It enhances this experience by incorporating forest scents into the screening rooms for an aromatherapy effect. It features musical compositions at 432 Hz, designed to resonate with the natural frequencies of the human body. Every element is crafted to offer a fully immersive experience, transporting viewers into the sacred world of the Huni Kuin and emphasizing the essential harmony between humans and their natural environment.
What truths are presented in the documentary?
Nawa Sia reveals several fundamental truths: the necessity of protecting the indigenous peoples of the Amazon, who are the stewards of ancestral wisdom and global biodiversity; the crucial importance of the connection between humans and nature; and how this deep relationship can heal and balance our lives. The film also conveys a powerful message of resilience and faith in one’s destiny, showing that each person has a unique mission to fulfil and an intuition to follow. Finally, it demonstrates that remaining true to one’s values and vision can lead to outstanding achievements despite the challenges.
What are the objectives and the central message of this documentary?
‘Nawa Sia’ is more than just a documentary; it’s a vibrant call to action and reflection. This daring movie invites viewers to reassess their connection with nature, seek personal balance in harmony with our fragile environment, and consider the crucial question of protecting our planet. It urges us to embrace the unknown with courage, to listen to our inner voice, and to have faith in life itself.
At the heart of this cinematic journey is a powerful message: the preservation of the Amazon and the respect for the indigenous cultures that are its guardians.
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Main photo: Mana Huni Kui, Isabella Vieira, and Paje Paenawa Huni Kui at Le Meridien Monaco, September 10, 2024. Photo provided