Watch American Experience: Into the Amazon

American Experience: Into the Amazon is a thrilling documentary film that tells the story of two Americans, Percy Fawcett and his son Jack Fawcett, who ventured into the depths of the Amazon rainforest in the early 20th century in search of an ancient lost city of gold. The documentary starts by setting the stage for the expedition. We see a desolate world that is not draped in concrete and steel but rather dense vegetation and rivers that cut through the dense forest. The film paints the Amazon as a place of myth and legend, as people have long believed that a lost city of gold, named Z, lay hidden somewhere deep in the jungle waiting to be discovered.

We learn about the protagonists, Percy and Jack Fawcett, who were both explorers themselves, and had been part of numerous expeditions before. Percy, who could not find his footing in England, was looking for a way to restore his family name and reputation by finding the city of gold. Meanwhile, his son Jack had an explorer’s soul and was looking for an adventure.

The documentary takes a historical approach to Percy’s and Jack’s time in the Amazon Jungle. We learn about the various obstacles they faced in trying to find Z. Navigating the rainforest itself was difficult, with impenetrable vegetation, insects that bore holes in them, deadly snakes, and ferocious predators lurking at every turn. Moreover, they had to deal with hostile indigenous tribes, diseases like malaria and yellow fever, and other unknown hazards they had never seen before.

As the duo travels deeper into the jungle, they eventually find what they believe to be the lost city, which they confirm with the aid of some native tribes. Still, they cannot get any deeper as they are out of supplies, and the conditions had overcome them.

The documentary explores the drama, and tension that arose during the expedition, which ultimately didn't end well as Percy, Jack, and their companion, Raleigh Rimmell, went missing on their final attempt to find the lost city. They were never to be seen again, leaving their fate a mystery for many years to come.

The documentary takes us through the aftermath of the failed expedition, where the documentary accounts what many travelers, adventurers, and explorers faced during their expeditions into the unknown. It presents the science and technology that was used later to help other explorers navigate into the Amazon and the ongoing efforts that continue to map the Amazon basin.

Alongside the historical story of the Fawcetts, the film also delves into the exploration of the Amazon more broadly, showing the impact of colonialism, logging, and other activities on indigenous people and economies. It offers contextual information not just about the Fawcetts but about the nature of exploration and its costs, going all the way back to the European colonization of South America.

Overall, American Experience: Into the Amazon offers an exciting journey through one of the world's most dangerous and mystical places. While celebrating the spirit of adventure that drives individuals like Percy and Jack Fawcett, it also reminds us that the world is still filled with mysteries that science may never be able to explain. The documentary is a must-watch for history buffs, adventure enthusiasts, and people who crave the thrill of exploring the unknown.

American Experience: Into the Amazon is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 53 minutes.