# The Burning Season (1994 film)

The Burning Season is a 1994 American made-for-television biographical drama film directed by John Frankenheimer. The film chronicles environmental activist Chico Mendes' fight to protect the Amazon rainforest. This was Raul Julia's last film released during his lifetime, premiering on HBO on September 16, 1994, five weeks before his death. The film was based in part on the 1990 book of the same name by journalist Andrew Revkin.

## Plot

Chico Mendes was a Brazilian rubber tapper, unionist and environmental activist who was murdered in 1988 by ranchers opposed to his activism. The movie opens in 1951 with a young Mendes witnessing his father's interaction with corrupt ranchers who are exploiting peasants for their work. The bulk of the film then takes place between 1983 and 1988, showing Mendes' activism to preserve the Amazon rainforest, to his murder in a drive-by shooting by a disgruntled rancher waiting in the shadows.

## Cast

* Raul Julia as Francisco "Chico" Mendes
* Carmen Argenziano as Alfredo Sezero
* Sônia Braga as Regina de Carvalho
* Kamala Lopez as Ilzamar
* Luis Guzmán as Estate Boss
* Nigel Havers as Steven Kaye
* Tomas Milian as Darli Alves
* Esai Morales as Jair
* Edward James Olmos as Wilson Pinheiro
* Roger Cudney as Reporter

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 1995 | American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television | Françoise Bonnot and Paul Rubell | Won |
| 1995 | Artios Awards | Best Casting for TV Movie of the Week | Junie Lowry-Johnson | Nominated |
| 1995 | CableACE Awards | Movie or Miniseries | David Puttnam, John Frankenheimer, Thomas M. Hammel, Diane Batson-Smith, and Ron Hutchinson | Nominated |
| 1995 | CableACE Awards | Actor in a Movie or Miniseries | Raul Julia | Won |
| 1995 | CableACE Awards | Directing a Movie or Miniseries | John Frankenheimer | Won |
| 1995 | CableACE Awards | Editing a Dramatic Special or Series/Theatrical Special/Movie or Miniseries | Françoise Bonnot | Nominated |
| 1995 | Environmental Media Awards | Made for Television Movie | Made for Television Movie | Won |
| 1995 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Won |
| 1995 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Raul Julia | Won |
| 1995 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Edward James Olmos | Won |
| 1995 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Sônia Braga | Nominated |
| 1995 | Humanitas Prize | PBS/Cable Television | William Mastrosimone, Michael Tolkin, and Ron Hutchinson | Won |
| 1995 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Made for Television Movie | David Puttnam, John Frankenheimer, Thomas M. Hammel, and Diane Batson-Smith | Nominated |
| 1995 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special | Raul Julia | Won |
| 1995 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special | Edward James Olmos | Nominated |
| 1995 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special | Sônia Braga | Nominated |
| 1995 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or a Special | John Frankenheimer | Won |
| 1995 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Special | William Mastrosimone, Michael Tolkin, and Ron Hutchinson | Nominated |
| 1995 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries | Raul Julia | Won |