Sky Above and Mud Beneath (1961)

Plot

In September 1959, a group of six Europeans embarks on a daring journey from Cook's Bay on the southern coast of what is now West Papua. Their expedition, spanning 450 miles through largely uncharted territory, lasts seven months and claims the lives of three Muyu porters. Along the way, they encounter welcoming villagers at both coasts, who share their rituals and hospitality. However, in the interior, they face resistance from local tribes, relying on airlifts from Hollandia for sustenance. As they ascend beyond 10,000 feet, they construct 14 bridges and battle leeches and malaria, all while the narrator vividly depicts the lives of Stone Age tribes, including headhunters and cannibals.