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 American Cinema Editors Nominated: Best Edited Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television (Françoise Bonnot and Paul Rubell) Casting Society of America Nominated: Best Casting for TV Movie of the Week (Junie Lowry-Johnson) Emmy Awards Won: Outstanding Directing in Miniseries or a Special (John Frankenheimer) Won: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special (Raul Julia [posthumously]) Nominated: Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Special (Ron Hutchinson, William Mastrosimone and Michael Tolkin) Nominated: Outstanding Made for Television Movie Nominated: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special (Edward James Olmos) Nominated: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special (Sônia Braga) Golden Globe Awards Won: Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV (Raul Julia [posthumously]) Won: Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV Won: Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV (Edward James Olmos) Nominated: Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV (Sônia Braga) Screen Actors Guild Awards Won: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries (Raul Julia [posthumously]) External links The Burning Season: The Murder of