Brazilian Cinema

MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE
MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE

MARIGHELLA + THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE

Regular price $445.00
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MARIGHELLA

After fighting censorship for two years in Brazil, MARIGHELLA became #1 at the Box Office in Brazil.

Marighella is a new Brazilian action drama set in 1969 based on the life of Afro-Brazilian politician and guerrilla fighter Carlos Marighella. Facing a violent military dictatorship and with little support from a timid opposition, writer-turned-politician Carlos Marighella organizes a resistance movement. Alongside revolutionaries 30 years younger than him and willing to fight, the revolutionary leader opts for action. The film is adapted from the biography Marighella - O Guerrilheiro que Incendiou o Mundo, by Mario Magalhaes. Brazilian musical artist, songwriter, and actor Seu Jorge plays Carlos Marighella.

Directed by Wagner Moura, 2019, Brazil, 155min, historical action drama, Portuguese w/ English subtitles

* Berlinale 2019 | Official Selection - Out of Competition
* INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT CRITICS PRIZE (Premio Giuseppe Becce)
* ONE OF SCREEN CRITICS' TOP FILMS FROM BERLIN 2019

"Angry and brutally necessary for the Brazil of today, Marighella is put together coolly and confidently by the green [Wagner] Moura." ~ One Room With A View

"Marighella works fine as an exciting and highly assured debut, with a terrific ensemble cast at its heart." ~ Hollywood Reporter

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THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE

DIRECTED BY JOEL ZITO ARAUJO
BRAZIL / 1997 / PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 38 MIN

SYNOPSIS

On March 13, 1992, Vicente Francisco do Espirito Santo, a Black Brazilian who worked in a government-owned electricity company, was fired from his job.  It did not take long for him to realize that his dismissal was directly linked to his skin color.  Encouraged by his union and a strong Black empowerment movement, he began a judicial process which he won, and as a result was reinstated in his former position.  This informative documentary about an unknown victory illustrates how the courts of Brazil did recognize the company's prejudice and racism in a country where such realities are usually dismissed as atypical. 

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Executive Order (Medida Provisora)
Executive Order (Medida Provisora)
Executive Order (Medida Provisora)
Executive Order (Medida Provisora)
Executive Order (Medida Provisora)
Executive Order (Medida Provisora)

Executive Order (Medida Provisora)

Regular price $395.00
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EXECUTIVE ORDER
(Medida Provisória)

Set in a dystopian near future in Rio de Janeiro, a lawyer (Alfred Enoch) sues the Brazilian government for reparation of all descendants of African slaves in the country. The authoritarian government responds by signing an executive order sending all black citizens to Africa as an excuse to repay the debts of slavery. 

Directed by Lázaro Ramos, 2020, Brazil, 101min, Drama, Portuguese w/ English subtitles.

"A chilling believability creeps into this dystopian debut from actor-turned-director Lázaro Ramos that’s hard to shake off." ~ Cath Clarke, Guardian

"[Executive Order] is Bacurau on a global scale, Get Out without the humor. It's Armee Guineenne unleashed in movie form, a melancholic prophecy of a coming war and a sendoff to those brave African soldiers who dared to fight for their heartland." ~ Asher Luberto, L.A. Weekly

"The directing is excellent, the cast is giving it their all, and the themes are relevant and need to be discussed." ~ Bobby LePire, Film Threat

"Politically and culturally driven it may be, Executive Order still ultimately aims for entertainment and education in equal measure." ~ Peter Gray, The AU Review

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QUILOMBO

QUILOMBO

Regular price $395.00
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QUILOMBO

DIRECTED BY Carlos Diegues
BRAZIL / 1984 / EPIC DRAMA / BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 114 MIN

SYNOPSIS

This historical saga is a stirring fusion of folklore, political impact and dynamic story-telling, realized in vibrant tropical colors and set to the pulsing beat of Gilberto Gil's musical score. After the slave revolt of 1641, groups of enslaved black Brazilians escaped to mountainous jungle strongholds where they formed self-governing communities. This film is the chronicle of the most famous of these communities which flourished for several decades under the reign of the legendary chieftain Ganga Zumba.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Carlos Diegues
Starring: Antônio Pompêo, Tony Tornado, Zeze Motta, Zózimo Bulbul
 

GENRES

  • Epic Drama
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Rolê - Stories of Brazilian Protests in Malls
Rolê - Stories of Brazilian Protests in Malls
Rolê - Stories of Brazilian Protests in Malls
Rolê - Stories of Brazilian Protests in Malls
Rolê - Stories of Brazilian Protests in Malls
Rolê - Stories of Brazilian Protests in Malls

Rolê - Stories of Brazilian Protests in Malls

Regular price $395.00
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Rolê - Stories of Brazilian Protests in Malls

Protests against the violence perpetrated by security guards and shopping mall employees in Brazil have mobilized thousands of people in recent years. These protests have highlighted the barriers imposed by racial discrimination and social exclusion. This documentary explores the lives and memories of three black activists who have faced traumatic experiences of racism and participated in recent shopping mall protests in Brazil. Discover the dreams, beauty, poetry, art, and politics of a generation that has found new ways to confront violence by fostering an intense national debate.

Directed by Vladimir Seixas / 2021 / 82 minutes / Documentary / Brazil / Portuguese with English subtitles.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Vladimir Seixas

 

GENRES

  • Documentary
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RACE & HISTORY IN BRAZIL

RACE & HISTORY IN BRAZIL

Regular price $295.00
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Race and its impact on the art and history of Brazil are highlighted in this two-disc set with Joel Zito Araujo's documentary Denying Brazil (A Negacao do Brasil, 92 mins) and Geraldo Santos Pereira's Aleijadinho: Passion, Glory and Torment (Aleijadinho: Paixao, Gloria e Suplicio, 100 mins.)

 

 


Denying Brazil

A Negacao do Brasil


A documentary film about the taboos, stereotypes, and struggles of Black actors in Brazilian television "soaps." Based on his own memories and on a sturdy body of research evidence, the director analyzes race relations in Brazilian soap operas, calling attention to their likely influence on Black people's identity-forming processes

 

 

Aleijadinho: Passion, Glory and Torment
Aleijadinho: Paixao, Gloria e Suplicio

Set in 18th century Brazil - a time when slavery was still the foundation of the Latin American economy - this fascinating historical drama is loosely based on the life of Black sculptor Antonio Francisco Lisboa "Aleijadinho," one of the greatest sculptors of Latin America.
“[DENYING BRAZIL is] a strong and significant work of intelligence."
– Phil Hall, FILM THREAT

“[Aleijadinho is an] ambitious biopic of 18th century black Brazilian sculptor/architect Antonio Francisco Lisboa (aka Aleijadinho).”
– Ronnie Scheib, VARIETY

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ALEIJADINHO, PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT

ALEIJADINHO, PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT

Regular price $295.00
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ALEIJADINHO, PASSION, GLORY AND TORMENT 

DIRECTED BY GERALDO SANTOS PEREIRA 
BRAZIL / 2001 / PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 100 MIN

SYNOPSIS

Set in 19th century Brazil - at a time when slavery was still at the foundation of the Latin American economy - this fascinating historical drama is loosely based on the life of Black sculptor Antonio Francisco Lisboa "Aleijadinho," one of the greatest sculptors of Latin America.
DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Geraldo Santos Pereira
 

GENRES

  • Drama

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SOUL IN THE EYE

SOUL IN THE EYE

Regular price $245.00
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SOUL IN THE EYE

DIRECTED BY ZOZIMO BULBUL
BRAZIL / 1974 / SILENT / 8 MIN

SYNOPSIS

This short film on the legacy of culture and survival bestowed by enslaved Africans brought to the Americas features the music of John Coltrane.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Zozimo Bulbul
 

GENRES

  • Drama 
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HUMAN BEHAVIOR

HUMAN BEHAVIOR

Regular price $145.00
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HUMAN BEHAVIOR

DIRECTED BY FLAVIO LEANDRO 

BRAZIL / 1995 / SILENT FILM / 12 MIN                                                                          
                                                                                                                          SYNOPSIS

In 1993, death squads opened fire on a group of sleeping street children camped on the steps of a cathedral in Rio de Janeiro’s central financial district, killing six. This event, later called the Candelaria massacre, is vividly depicted in this short film about the plight of street children in Brazil.  

DIRECTOR

Director: Flavio Leandro
 

GENRE

  • Drama

                                                                      

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AFRO-BRAZILIAN LEADERS

AFRO-BRAZILIAN LEADERS

Regular price $395.00
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Revealing films about two very important Afro-Brazilian figures:

* Abdias do Nascimento (March 14, 1914 - May 23, 2011) was an outspoken and vibrant defender of Afro-Brazilian civil rights.
* Natalino Jose do Nacimento, better known as Natal Da Portela (July 31, 1905- April 5, 1975) was one of the founders and major sponsor of the Portela Samba School in Rio de Janeiro, champion of the 2017 Carnival parade.

ABDIAS DO NASCIMENTO

Loving and revealing documentary about Afro-Brazilian scholar/writer/activist /politician Abdias do Nascimento (1914-2011), a significant figure in and leader of Brazil’s Black movement who founded the Black Experimental Theater in 1944 and was very active in the international Pan-African Movement.
Directed by Aida Marques, 2011, 95 min, Brazil, Documentary, Portuguese with English subtitles.

NATAL DA PORTELA

The name ‘Natal da Portela’ is historically attached to the cultural identity of Brazil. Natal da Portela created the first escola de samba in Rio de Janeiro. The schools of samba are the soul of carnival in Brazil and major reservoirs of Afro-Brazilian culture. The film depicts the life of Natal da Portela as a young man from the favelas--the slums of the northern part of Rio de Janeiro--up to the creation of “la Portela”, the school of samba he created.

Directed by Paulo Cezar Saraceni, 1988, 100min, Brazil, Drama, Portuguese with English subtitles.

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NATAL DA PORTELA

NATAL DA PORTELA

Regular price $195.00
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NATAL DA PORTELA

DIRECTED BY PAULO CEZAR SARACENI
BRAZIL / 1988 / PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 100 MIN

SYNOPSIS

The name ‘Natal da Portela’ is historically attached to the cultural identity of Brazil. Natal da Portela created the first escola de samba in Rio de Janeiro. The schools of samba are the soul of carnival in Brazil and major reservoirs of Afro-Brazilian culture. The film depicts the life of Natal da Portela as a young man from the favelas--the slums of the northern part of Rio de Janeiro--up to the creation of “la Portela”, the school of samba he created. The principal role played by Milton Goncalves, one of the major Black actors in Brazil, gives the story an authentic flavor rarely seen in films portraying the contemporary life of Black people in Brazil. This is a film filled with joy, music and laughter. “Natal da Portela” is also a film that narrates the story of contemporary Brazil and the legacy of African people in that country. Several other major actors enrich the story, Zeze Mota well known for her role in “Quilombo” and the dean of Black Brazilian actors, the great Grande Otello much remembered for his major role in Rio Zona Norte and Macunaima just to mention a few titles.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Paulo Cezar Saraceni
Starring: Zezé Motta
Starring: Milton Gonçalves
Starring: Almir Guineto
 

GENRES

  • Drama 
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THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE

THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE

Regular price $145.00
/

THE EXCEPTION AND THE RULE 

DIRECTED BY JOEL ZITO ARAUJO
BRAZIL / 1997 / PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 38 MIN

SYNOPSIS

On March 13, 1992, Vicente Francisco do Espirito Santo, a Black Brazilian who worked in a government-owned electricity company, was fired from his job.  It did not take long for him to realize that his dismissal was directly linked to his skin color.  Encouraged by his union and a strong Black empowerment movement, he began a judicial process which he won, and as a result was reinstated in his former position.  This informative documentary about an unknown victory illustrates how the courts of Brazil did recognize the company's prejudice and racism in a country where such realities are usually dismissed as atypical. 

 

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Joel Zito Araujo
 

GENRES

  • Documentary
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DENYING BRAZIL

DENYING BRAZIL

Regular price $245.00
/

DENYING BRAZIL 

DIRECTED BY JOEL ZITO ARAUJO 
BRAZIL / 2000 / PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 92 MIN
SYNOPSIS

A documentary film about the taboos, stereotypes, and struggles of Black actors in Brazilian television "soaps." Based on his own memories and on a sturdy body of research evidence, the director analyzes race relations in Brazilian soap operas, calling attention to their likely influence on Black people's identity-forming processes. 

"As a sociological dissection on how popular entertainment can shape racial prejudice and help to build racial justice, 'Denying Brazil' is a strong and significant work of intelligence."  - Phil Hall, Filmthreat

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Joel Zito Araujo

 GENRES

  • Documentary
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ABOLICAO

ABOLICAO

Regular price $345.00
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Abolicao.mp4 from ArtMattan Productions on Vimeo.

ABOLICAO

DIRECTED BY SOZIMO BULBUL 
BRAZIL / 1988 / PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 150 MIN

SYNOPSIS

Aboliçao is a startling look at the racial situation of Black Brazilians in contemporary Brazil. The director asks the following question to Black Brazilians from diverse walks of life -- musicians, politicians, activists, people in government, ambassadors, social workers, sport stars, actors, street kids, farmers, etc… -- “We are celebrating 100 years since the abolition of slavery in Brazil, what does the abolition of slavery mean to you?”… Divided in sections addressing political, economic, social and cultural issues, Aboliçao contributed to a new analysis of the Black experience in Brazil. An indispensable title to have in a library for the study of the Black presence in Latin America.

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Sozimo Bulbul
Starring: Camila Amado 
Starring: Benedita da Silva
Starring: Abdias do Nascimento
 

GENRES

  • Documentary

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ABDIAS DO NASCIMENTO

ABDIAS DO NASCIMENTO

Regular price $295.00
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ABDIAS DO NASCIMENTO 

DIRECTED BY AIDA MARQUES
BRAZIL / 2011 / PORTUGUESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES / 95 MIN

SYNOPSIS

Loving and revealing documentary about Afro-Brazilian scholar/writer/activist /politician Abdias do Nascimento (1914-2011), a significant figure in and leader of Brazil’s Black movement who founded the Black Experimental Theater in 1944 and was very active in the international Pan-African Movement.

 

DIRECTOR AND CAST

Director: Aida Marques
 

GENRES

  • Documentary
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