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Classic documentaries

Tong Tana

Year1989
Directed byJan Röed
Made inSweden
See it on en.wikipedia.org

At a glance

Tong Tana: A Journey to the Heart of Borneo is a Swedish documentary about the Penan people of Sarawak and their effort to protect their tropical rainforest. The film centers on Swiss environmental activist Bruno Manser, who was targeted by the Malaysian government for opposing logging by the lumber industry. Its listed year is 1989, and Jan Röed is named as director. The country is Sweden and the language is Swedish. The background also notes that the television crew returned to the area ten years later to make Tong Tana: The Lost Paradise. That later film records the Penan struggle to preserve what remained after their homeland had been logged. The entry is listed as a documentary film and carries the longer subtitle A Journey to the Heart of Borneo. For readers browsing documentaries about people, forests and environmental conflict, it connects the Penan community's situation with logging and activism in Sarawak, part of Borneo in Malaysia.

Who it is for

This suits viewers interested in the Penan people, tropical rainforest protection, or environmental activism. It may also interest readers exploring documentaries about Sarawak and Borneo.

What is good

  • Centers on the Penan people of Sarawak
  • Addresses rainforest protection
  • Includes Bruno Manser's story
  • Notes a later return by the TV crew

What to know first

  • The listed language is Swedish
  • The entry gives no runtime

Verdict

Tong Tana connects the Penan people's struggle to protect their rainforest with the story of Bruno Manser. The background also points to a later return to the area and a second film about the effects of logging.

Details

Year
1989wikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
Director
Jan Röedwikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
Country
Swedenwikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026
IMDb
tt0098489wikidata.org · 3 Oct 2026

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