Goodbye, Captain (Adeus Capitão)

Goodbye, Captain relates the epic story of the Gavião community to maintain their language, livelihood and identity throughout a half-century of upheavals. At the center of this historical narrative and of the efforts to restore the memory of the community is Captain Krohokrenhum, leader of the Gavião indigenous people in the south of Pará. Krohokrenhum shares the history of his people through his story-telling, and his commitment to restoring the community’s ceremonies. 

Through a collaboration with filmmaker Vincent Carelli, Krohokrenhum’s narrative history begins with the wars of the “brave Indian”, but the real devastation starts with contact with the kupen or whiteman, when the community is devastated by the introduction of new diseases and the survivors are scattered around the region. The further encroachment of the kupen results in the loss of Gavião lands, including the nut trees that offer economic independence, the imposition of slave labor, and a generation raised outside of their culture and language. As the story continues, strategic alliances with other Gavião groups, enable Krohokrenhum and his people to rebel against the government policies. They ultimately gain control of the plantation and financial autonomy. Contact with other Gavião groups also inspires Krohokrenhum and the community to revitalize the Gavião language and ceremonies. 

Woven throughout this history is the relationship between the Captain and Vincent Carelli, who began filming the community using a VHS camera in the 1960s. The film opens with Carelli’s return of an audio-visual archive to the Gavião community and the promise of fulfilling Krohokrenhum’s wish to maintain the memory of his people.