Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Garden of Evil investigates Peter Blake's and other conservationists' deaths in the Amazon

by Mediawave 13 Nov 2021 00:37 PST 13 November 2021
Seamaster in the Amazon in 2001 - from Garden of Evil © Blakexpeditions

The Garden of Evil is an award winning documentary about Sir Peter Blake's murder, Captain Pete Bethune's knife attack and corruption in The Amazon.

Blake was but one of hundreds of conservationists killed for drawing international attention to what is happening with deforestation and illegal logging in the Amazon. Captain Pete Bethune, who came close to suffering the same fate as Blake, escorted the documentary crew as they filmed in the Amazon.

The documentary is written, produced and directed by Larry Keating whose work covers the America's Cup, and many other award winning documentaries in sport and other categories. Garden of Evil had its world premiere at the DocEdge Film Festival on 12 June at The Civic Theatre in Auckland, and has played to a packed house in a second film festival in Wellington.

This explosive story focuses on two prominent characters in the new world order of conservationists. Captain Pete Bethune an eco-warrior who escaped near-certain death in a 2017 attack in the Amazon, and Sir Peter Blake a United Nations Special Envoy for the environment, who was murdered aboard his research yacht Seamaster off Macapa at the mouth of the Amazon in 2001. Sadly they were just two of the thousands of conservationists who have been killed by the logging mafia.

Both Blake and Bethune were on independent missions sixteen years apart to bring about greater global awareness of the environmental importance of the Amazon rainforest and its labyrinth of waterways.

"The film exposes the threats of ruthless protectionism, greed, unbridled street crime and river piracy," explains Larry. "Sir Peter Blake and Pete Bethune are examples of the thousands who have suffered at the hands of organised criminals in the Amazon in recent years, in fact more than 200 guardians of the rainforest were murdered during the making of The Garden of Evil".



The film questions whether Blake and Bethune, as Brazilian authorities have led us to believe, were simply in "the wrong place at the wrong time" or were there more sinister reasons for the attacks and Blake's slaying? Three investigative journalists seeking answers and searching for the truth are led by renowned Professor of Criminology and BBC TV presenter Donal MacIntyre with Brazilian based Ciao Vilela and Sam Cowie.

For the very first time, in one of the two prison visits, the gunman is interviewed who fired the fatal shots that took Sir Peter's life.

What has taken five years to produce including months on-location filming in the Amazon, this privately funded production is ready for world-wide distribution and general theatrical release throughout New Zealand.

The Garden of Evil has been awarded 'Best Cinematography' at the 2021 Doc Edge Festival and selected at the Montreal Independent Film Festival.

This film revives the selfless purpose of why Blake and Bethune were in the Amazon. They went there to see firsthand the probable grim environmental future if nothing is done to control the destruction of the rainforest and the exploitation of its riches and to demonstrate to the world what really matters - we are all guardians of the rainforest.

To view the movie trailer and learn more about the film, please visit gardenofevilmovie.com

Larry Keating has enjoyed a variety of media roles - from photographer to radio & TV presenter, to directing and producing documentaries and advertorials for broadcasters around the world, that included companies such as Louis Vuitton, Moët & Chandon, Hennessy, Steinlager and BNZ. For more than 30 years he produced television sports programmes around that included inserts of interviews with celebrities and VIPs such as Britain's Royals to Nelson Mandela. He is noted for his America's Cup work, and assembled the largest archive of Cup images and video. He worked closely with America's Cup author and journalist, Bob Fisher on several major America's Cup projects.

Larry's prior media involvement included working as a globe - trotting reporter for radio networks all over the world, covering major events from the Fireworks World Champs in Monaco and France to nine America's Cup regattas and two Olympic Games (in Korea and Barcelona).

Cinema List - showing from November 4

With the exception of the Auckland and Waikato regions The Garden of Evil featuring the murder of Sir Peter Blake will be in selected cinema’s around New Zealand from November 4.

Due to the COVID 19 Level 3 lockdown restrictions, all cinema’s in Auckland and Waikato are closed until further notice

For screening times at the cinema’s listed here, please go to www.flicks.co.nz/coming-soon

  • Event Cinema Whangarei
  • Raglan Arts Centre
  • Tivoli Cinema
  • Event Tauranga
  • Rialto Cinemas
  • Tivoli Papamoa
  • Starlight Cinema Taupo
  • Dome Cinema Gisborne
  • Confluence Whanganui
  • Event New Plymouth
  • Event Havelock North
  • Circus Cinema Marlborough
  • Focal Point Palmerston
  • North Event Palmerston North
  • Event Paraparaumu
  • ShoreLine Cinema Waikanae
  • Gecko Motueka
  • Event Cinema Blenheim
  • Geraldine Cinema
  • Hollywood Theatre CHC
  • Rialto Cinemas Dunedin
  • Paradiso Cinema Wanaka
  • Academy Cinema Gold Christchurch

Related Articles

The power of tech
What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? Posted on 2 Jul
Jazz Turner Faces Everything and Rises
Non-stop, solo, unassisted British Isles navigation has captivated sailors & non-sailors alike Jazz Turner's Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin Vega 27ft yacht has captivated sailors and non-sailors alike. Posted on 2 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D3
Surprise exits in Marstrand as Quarter-Finalists decided The qualifying round-robin stages at GKSS Match Cup Sweden in Marstrand finished today with the surprise departure of defending champion USA's Chris Poole/ Riptide Racing and Switzerland's Eric Monnin/ Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team from the Open Class. Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais Day 1
Sled sparkle in Cascais' Atlantic surf to lead After seemingly being starved of boisterous top end conditions for some years now Okura's Sled crew have been relishing a return to big breezes and big waves. Posted on 2 Jul
CSA commits to collaboration and sustainability
This year's AGM saw participation from a diverse group of stakeholders The Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) proudly announces the successful conclusion of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Regatta Organizers Conference, held from June 25 to June 28, 2025, in St. Maarten. Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race: Offshore classics set to race
IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it. While French round the world race legend Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (aka VDH) isn't competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race, two of his former steeds will be on the IRC Zero start line. Posted on 2 Jul
Four days to start the 5th AEGEAN 600
The fleet has a wide range of sizes and types represented Nearly all 60 teams are assembled here at the Olympic Marine venue getting ready for the start of the 5th edition of the AEGEAN 600, organized by the Hellenic Offshore Race Club (HORC) with co-organizers being Olympic Marine and Region of Attica. Posted on 2 Jul
The Magenta Project unveils new brand identity
As part of its milestone tenth anniversary As part of its milestone tenth anniversary, The Magenta Project is excited to launch a refreshed brand identity and the first phase of its new website, reinforcing its commitment to equity and inclusion for women in sailing. Posted on 2 Jul
Course des Caps Update: A promising start!
The eleven crews have begun their grand tour around the British Isles The Course des Caps - Boulogne-sur-Mer - Banque Populaire du Nord, which set sail from the shores of northern France, marks the first race of the 2025 season and kicks off the new edition of the IMOCA Globe Series Championship. Posted on 2 Jul
18ft Skiffs: Queensland 18 footer history
Decades of successful ideas and achievement Queensland's revival over recent seasons, which resulted in a two-pronged attack by experienced and young teams in new skiffs at the 2025 Giltinan world championship Posted on 2 Jul
Selden 2020 - FOOTERMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range