This film illustrates the field techniques used by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Michigan in collaboration with their Venezuelan colleagues. The expedition shown here included specialists in human genetics, serology, epidemiology, demography, dentistry, physical and cultural anthropology, and linguistics.
The film describes the team's objectives — to understand the Yanomamö population structure in genetic and social terms — and the methods used in obtaining data. It touches upon medical problems already apparent in 1968, such as the high death rate from recently introduced measles, to which the Yanomamö had no previous immunity.
Insight is provided into the peculiarities of the relationship between the scientists and their subjects: the scientists collect blood specimens, photograph anomalous teeth, and stir human stool samples around in little jars, much to the bewilderment and amusement of the Yanomamö.
The film also includes a brief sketch of Yanomamö culture and society.
SELECTED SCREENINGS & AWARDS
CINE Golden Eagle
Red Ribbon, American Film Festival
Festival dei Popoli, Florence, Italy
Sydney Film Festival, Australia
National Educational Film Festival
International Festival of Scientific Films, Rio De Janeiro
4th International Congress of Human Genetics, Paris
International Educational Film Festival, Teheran