Sky Above and Mud Beneath poster

Sky Above and Mud Beneath

Men of the space age meet men of the stone age.

5.7(12)19611h 32m1

In September, 1959, six Europeans leave Cook's Bay on the southern coast of Dutch New Guinea, now West Papua or Irian Jaya, to trek north to the far side of the island. The journey (450 miles, as a crow flies) across unmapped territory took seven months; three Muyu porters died. Near both coasts, the expedition met villagers who invited them to observe rituals and live with them. In the interior, all villagers kept them at bay, and they depended on air lifts from Hollandia for food and supplies. They climbed above 10,000 feet, built 14 bridges, and fought leeches and malaria. The narrator focuses on describing Stone Age savages, headhunters, and cannibals.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
French

Behind the camera

Gallery

Still from Sky Above and Mud BeneathStill from Sky Above and Mud Beneath

Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • Theatrical21 Jun 1962
  • FranceFR

    • PremiereCannes Film Festival30 Apr 1961
    • Theatrical5 May 1961
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical6 Oct 1961

Frequently asked questions

Sky Above and Mud Beneath was released on 5 May 1961.

Audience reviews

1
  • C

    CinemaSerf

    8/2/2025

    7/10

    There is a scene towards the end of this documentary that shows a woman with a baby suckling on one breast and a piglet on the other. That is just one of the many bizarre images that this really quite fascinating film delivers as it follows a team trying to cross the narrowest part of Dutch New Guinea. Assembling a small team, some bearers and half a dozen soldiers, three intrepid Europeans start off to cross four hu…

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