They Killed Sister Dorothy
- Interaction Designer,
- Lead Developer
- HBO,
- Bluecadet
- Interaction Design,
- Experience Design,
- Development
Bluecadet created the companion website for a documentary film about Sister Dorothy Stang, an environmental and social activist murdered in the Amazon rainforest. The website aimed to complement the film’s narrative and deepen public awareness of the environmental and social issues it presented.
The Film
“They Killed Sister Dorothy” is a documentary produced by Henry Ansbacher and directed by Daniel Junge. It chronicles the life and assassination of Sister Dorothy Stang, a nun who championed the rights of the poor and environmental conservation in the Brazilian Amazon.
The film delves into Sister Dorothy’s efforts to protect the rainforest and the violent opposition she faced. Through interviews and archival footage, it examines the impact of her work and her tragic murder, which brought international attention to the conflict between peasants and wealthy ranchers in the Amazon.
The Challenge
Motivated by social justice, Bluecadet undertook the project to create a companion site for the film, aiming to support the documentary’s social and environmental message.
The main challenge was to balance the portrayal of the horror of Sister Dorothy’s murder with the beauty of the rainforest she fought to protect, without overshadowing the essential information.
Design Strategy
The design framed the content without getting in the way of the story. The architecture, navigation, and flow were all designed to keep the user returning to these questions: Who was this woman? Why was she killed? And what will be done about it?
Content Strategy for a Cinematic Experience
The website incorporated clips from the film as background for different sections. This design choice effectively conveyed the atmospheric tension of the story, enhancing the user’s engagement with the content.
Recognition & Impact
The documentary won multiple awards, including the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize at the Independent Film Festival of Boston.
