The four-episode Brazilian miniseries THE AMERICAN GUEST, created and directed by Bruno Barreto and starring Aidan Quinn and Chico Diaz, in the roles of Theodore Roosevelt and Cândido Rondon, has just premiered on HBO Max and HBO. Inspired by a true story, the production recounts the expedition by the former US president through the Amazon region, alongside the Brazilian explorer.
The story takes place at the beginning of the 20th century. After a bitter defeat in the U.S. presidential campaign, Roosevelt sets out in search of his lost youth in the Brazilian Rainforest with the objective of exploring the last uncharted river in the country: the River of Doubt
Check out some curiosities about the river and the path taken by Rondon and the former American president:
NEW NAME
Previously called the River of Doubt, as no one knew where the river flowed into, its name was changed to Roosevelt River after the expedition by former US president Theodore Roosevelt to the site in 1914.
LENGTH
The River of Doubt originates in the state of Rondônia, it crosses a part of Mato Grosso and enters into Amazonas, where it becomes a tributary of the Madeira River – today, the length of the river doesn’t reach as far, because it ends at the Aripuanã River. It is 679 kilometers long, with various rapids.
ROUTE
During the journey, which became known as the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition and which lasted over seven months, Roosevelt and Rondon covered more than 2,000 kilometers, and it was thanks to this undertaking that the river’s true course was discovered.
BEYOND THE RIVER
In addition to mapping the entire length of the River of Doubt and finally placing it on Brazil’s map, the expedition was also a success in cataloging several new species of plants and animals found in the region.
BOOK
The Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition became the subject of the book The River of Doubt - Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey, by Candice Millard.
The second episode of THE AMERICAN GUEST premieres on HBO Max on Sunday, October 3rd. The exclusive HBO miniseries, co-produced with Teleimage, is created and directed by Bruno Barreto and is written by Matthew Chapman. The production includes funding from Condecine – Artigo 39.
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