Beyond Borders: Brazilian Cinema Shines at the Festival Brésil en Mouvements 2024
The Festival Brésil en Mouvements, celebrating its 20th anniversary, is back in 2024 with a vibrant lineup of documentaries showcasing the diversity and challenges of contemporary Brazil. Running from October 3 to 6 at Les Sept Parnassiens cinema in Paris, the festival highlights Brazilian culture and its ongoing struggles, drawing in attentive audiences from across France.
This year’s festival underscores the power of culture as a tool for resistance and transformation, positioning Brazil as a nation in constant evolution—one that is fighting, reflecting, and crafting new narratives for a global audience.
Joelma Gonzaga, Secretary of Audiovisual at the Ministry of Culture, emphasized the festival’s role in fostering cross-cultural dialogue. “By sharing our documentaries with the world, we expand our voice and showcase the strength and diversity of contemporary Brazil. Cinema serves as a powerful means of social transformation, making Brésil en Mouvements a crucial platform for this exchange.”
The program features films that capture both historical and contemporary moments in Brazil. Notable screenings include Malunga, by Gal Souza, which tells the story of Thereza Santos, an activist persecuted during the military regime and a key figure in Brazil’s black struggle. This film commemorates the 60th anniversary of the 1964 military coup and highlights the resilience of black women in Brazil.
Another significant documentary is A Flecha e a Farda, directed by Miguel Antunes, which delves into the little-known creation of the Indigenous Rural Guard during the military period. Using newly uncovered archival footage, it reflects on the ongoing repression faced by indigenous peoples.
The Fall of the Sky, by Eryk Rocha and Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha, makes its debut in France, revealing the struggles of the Yanomami against Amazon destruction. This powerful film exposes the violence and neglect endured by traditional communities in Brazil.
The festival also marks the 40th anniversary of the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST) with Aucun Homme N’est Né Pour Être Trampled, by Narimane Baba Aïssa and Lucas Roxo. This documentary links historical figures like Lampião to modern land struggles, showcasing the MST’s role in social transformation.
Already Incompatible with Life, directed by Eliza Capai, tackles women’s rights and the criminalization of abortion, contextualizing these issues within the experiences of Brazilian women.
In addition to screenings, the festival features discussions with acclaimed Brazilian filmmakers such as Marcelo Gomes, who will present I Travel Because I Need to, I Come Back Because I Love You, and Ernesto de Carvalho, who will showcase The Transformation of Canuto. Sandra Kogut will lead a debate on the rise of the far right in Brazil, tying it to the narrative of her film No Céu da Pátria Neste Instante.
The Festival Brésil en Mouvements promises to be a powerful celebration of Brazilian cinema and culture, inviting audiences to engage with the stories that shape a nation.
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