The remarkable true story behind Netflix's The Lost Children, explained 

The Lost Children is a documentary film directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Orlando von Einsiedel and produced by Marta Shaw. It will premiere on Netflix on November 14, 2024.

The documentary tells the survival story of the four Mucutuy siblings, who spent 40 days in the Colombian jungle after a tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of their mother and other adult passengers. The film also highlights the heroic efforts of the Colombian Army, Indigenous volunteer rescuers, and others who undertook the quest to bring them home.

Produced by Grain Media in collaboration with Caracol Televisión, Imagine Documentaries, Teletigre, and One Day’s Walk, the documentary features executive producers Gonzalo Córdoba, José María Reyes, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, and several others.

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The Lost Children tells the survival story of the Mucutuy siblings

On May 1, 2023, a small plane took off from a village in Araracuara en route to San Jose del Guaviare. Unfortunately, it crashed deep into the Columbian Amazon rainforest, killing all the adults on board. However, four Mucutuy siblings, traveling with their mother, Magdalena Mucutuy, survived.

The disappearance of the siblings aged 13, 9, 4, and 11 months gained national coverage, as did the extensive rescue operation that followed. The Netflix documentary provides accounts from those closely involved in the operation, including the children's family members, Columbian Army personnel, and the indigenous volunteer rescuers.

Remarkably, the children survived in the rainforest for 40 days before being rescued on June 9, 2023. The 13-year-old Lesly Mukutuy was credited for keeping herself and her siblings alive using ancestral knowledge and survival skills.

Columbian Defense Minister Iván Velásquez praised her efforts, stating:

"We have to recognize not only her bravery but also her leadership. We can say that it was because of her that her three younger siblings could survive by her side, thanks to her care and her knowledge of the jungle."

However, a custody battle soon ensued between the children's maternal grandparents and Magdalena Mucutuy's partner, Manuel Ranoque. The case drew further attention when Ranoque, the biological father of the two youngest siblings, was accused of s*xually abusing one of the children before the crash. He has denied all the charges and challenged the accusation in court.

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The Lost Children is directed by Orlando von Einsiedel

The documentary film is directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, who won an Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) for The White Helmets. His previous Netflix documentary film, Virunga, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Apart from Einsiedel, Jorge Durán and Lali Houghton serve as the co-directors of The Lost Children. Acclaimed filmmaker Ron Howard, known for Apollo 13, The Da Vinci Code, and A Beautiful Mind, is one of the executive producers of the film.

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When will The Lost Children be released?

The Lost Children will be released on Netflix on November 14, 2024. Viewers will need a subscription to the streaming platform to watch the documentary, which may vary according to their location. In the United States, the subscription cost ranges from $6.99 to 22.99.

One can access the entire library of movies, shows, and documentaries and stream in an ad-supported standard video quality by paying the amount of $6.99 per month. The $22.99 package allows users to stream videos at Ultra HD without ads on up to six devices.

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Interested viewers can stream The Lost Children on Netflix starting November 14, 2024.