Christina Rose and The Lost Voice: History, Mystery and Courage
- Every Media Productions
- Aug 26, 2025
- 5 min read
In her most recent documentary, the awarded filmmaker retraces a groundbreaking cinematic journey into the Amazon Forest and also confronts her own purpose as an artist.
By Fábio Borges, in Los Angeles.
In the world of documentary film, there are stories that not only illuminate the past but also redefine the present. Christina Rose, an award-winning filmmaker, has devoted her career to amplifying voices that might otherwise be lost. Her latest project, The Lost Voice, takes her deep into the Amazon rainforest and even deeper into her own family history, where she uncovers the forgotten legacy of her great-grand aunt, Pola Brückner, the first woman believed to have ever filmed in the Amazon.
Rose’s journey is not only about resurrecting the story of a pioneering woman but also about confronting her own struggles as a filmmaker. As she retraces Pola’s steps, Christina is faced with questions about identity, purpose, and resilience. What begins as an act of historical research evolves into an intimate journey of self-discovery, blurring the line between past and present, and between family legacy and personal destiny.
The result is a documentary that does more than tell a story, it awakens one. With every discovery, Christina restores not just Pola’s voice, but her own. Her film is a reminder that buried within history are echoes that demand to be heard, and sometimes, the search for another’s truth reveals our own.
In the following interview, Christina Rose reflects on the making of The Lost Voice, sharing the discoveries, challenges, and personal revelations behind the documentary.
What initially inspired you to dedicate yourself to uncovering the story of your great-grand aunt Pola Brückner?
During the pandemic, I came across Pola’s book “Eine Frau ging in den Urwald” (“A Woman Went into the Amazon Forest”) by chance. It was a book of both curiosity and mystery. I had always wanted to read it, but it was written in an old German font type that was difficult for me to read.
While having more extra time on my hands, my mother shared passages from it along with her insights as she had once met Pola Brückner. In that moment, I knew I wanted to know more about this woman and what drove her to do what she was doing. However, I was in the middle of finishing our documentary series EMPOWERED. In 2023, a family friend transcribed the entire book, which piqued my interest even further, and the birth of the project began.
During production in Brazil, you unearthed forgotten railway tracks and sparked local interest in their own history. How did it feel to make such an unexpected archaeological discovery while retracing Pola’s footsteps?
I cannot take credit for finding the light railway tracks and uncovering the mysteries surrounding them. The person that deserved credit for this was Diego Barros, the park ranger of Utinga Park in Belém. Elena Welper and Claudia Belfort, our research team, had traveled to the Amazon to retrace Pola’s footsteps and to seek new insights and information.
Our source material was the book that Pola wrote, in which she mentions taking a rest on a small little carriage which, before she knew it, started to uncontrollably roll down the hill. There was no stopping the runaway carriage. Luckily, nothing happened to her, but it’s quite a funny story the way she describes it. We wanted to know if these light train tracks still exist.
When Claudia talked to Diego, he had never heard of them but confidently said, if they do exist, we will find them—and sure enough, a few weeks later, they sent us a video showing that they found them. What is so amazing is that two professors from Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA) got involved, who then sought to verify that they were authentic from the time that Pola describes. They started their own research project tracing the history of the train tracks and discovered more tracks all over the park. It’s truly very amazing.
Many of the local historians and experts you interviewed had never heard of Pola or her expedition. What does it mean to you to bring this forgotten chapter of both German cinema and Brazilian history to light?
Obviously, for me it is very special, but I really have to highlight the fact of how supportive and helpful the historians and experts of the region have been. It’s clear why the topic and search for my great-grand aunt interest me, but to see how involved and supportive everybody has been has truly been a beautiful experience. They have been so invested in the project that words cannot describe how much this has meant to me. I honestly wish that others, especially the German community, would recognize the significance of this.
There are a few who have been extremely supportive and helpful, but most of them don’t seem to care, which has been disheartening. At the same time, I’m confident that this documentary will change people’s minds and perceptions, and it will shine a light on a female filmmaker that would have been lost if it weren’t for the whole team I’m fortunate to have from both Germany and Brazil, that I have gotten to know. They are amazing, and we have something to share that others need to know.
The documentary also touches on your personal journey as a filmmaker, confronting your own struggles. How did investigating Pola’s life impact the way you see your own career and artistic purpose?
There are many parallels between her and me that have surprised and inspired me. There are many differences too, and things she did I’ll probably never understand. I have had to look at myself to reflect and understand what is my own purpose in life.
Without question, I’m a struggling filmmaker, trying to make ends meet and trying to have an impact… but making this feature documentary, telling this story has pushed me in ways I didn’t know I was capable of… and telling this story has certainly changed me as a woman and a filmmaker.
What do you hope audiences, both in Brazil and internationally, will take away from The Lost Voice?
While this documentary is about recovering a lost voice, it goes beyond that, hopefully to inspire others that have not been seen or heard in their lives. I want people to know that they must not let anything get in their way to be heard, and most importantly, I want people to know that the best thing they can do is follow their own purpose.
Sometimes, it might take some time to find one’s purpose, but once you do, hold on to it, let it guide you, don’t be afraid, and have the courage to press on. We all have one life to live, and no matter how small the story seems, each of us has a unique story to tell that only we can tell. I want others to believe in themselves and pursue the value and importance of who they are.
About the Author
Fábio Borges is an award-winning international journalist and founder of Every Media Productions. Since 1996, he has reported from the Americas, Europe and Asia, producing over 4,000 news stories for leading media outlets.
