Overview
After squandering his grant money, despondent and recently widowed anthropologist James Krippendorf must produce hard evidence of the existence of a heretofore undiscovered New Guinea tribe. Grass skirts, makeup, and staged rituals transform his three troubled children into the Shelmikedmu, a primitive culture whose habits enthrall scholars. But when a spiteful rival threatens to blow the whistle on Krippendorf's ruse, he gets into the act as well.
Trailer
Crew
DirectorTodd Holland
WriterCharlie Peters
Cast
Richard Dreyfuss
Prof. Krippendorf
Jenna Elfman
Veronica
Zakes Mokae
Sulukim
Siobhan Fallon Hogan
Lori
Natasha Lyonne
Shelly
Gregory Smith
Mickey
Lily Tomlin
Ruth Allen
Stephen Root
Gerald Adams
Elaine Stritch
Irene Hargrove
Mila Kunis
Abbey Tournquist
David Ogden Stiers
Henry Spivey
Doris Belack
President Porter
Julio Oscar Mechoso
Simon Alonso
Amzie Strickland
Gladys Schmades
Phil Leeds
Dr. Harvey
Frances Bay
Edith Proxmire
Susan Ruttan
Mrs. O'Brian
Tom Poston
Gordon Hargrove
Penny Johnson Jerald
Teacher
Bruce Jarchow
Dr. Andrews, Chester Hill
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Keywords
based on novel or booksingle parentprofessorexpeditioncircumcisioncollegefamily relationshipsanthropologyjunglemonkeylecturelost tribefaked footagehoaxpapua new guineanew guineacircumcision ritual
Details
TMDb Votes
91
Added May 14, 2026Updated Jun 4, 2026