1. Cinema Novo (Cinema Novo)
A deep investigation, in the way of a poetic essay, on one of the main Latin American movements in cinema, analyzed via the thoughts of its main authors, who invented, in the early 1960s, a new way of making movies in Brazil, with a political attitude, always near to people's problems, that combined art and revolution.
It has an average vote of 6.696 on TMDB.
2. The Beginning of Life (O Começo da Vida)
One of the greatest neuroscience breakthroughs is having discovered that babies are far more than a genetic load. The development of all human beings lies on the combination of genetics, the quality of the relationships and the environment they are set on. The Beginning of Life invites everyone to reflect: are we taking good care of this unique moment, which defines both the present and future of humankind?
It has an average vote of 7.3 on TMDB.
3. The Mighty Spirit (Santo Forte)
An overview of brazilian spirituality and religions.
It has an average vote of 6.7 on TMDB.
4. Maria Bethânia: Música é Perfume (Maria Bethânia: Música é Perfume)
Brazilian singer Maria Bethania has a 40-year singing career. A documentary shows her concerts and famous family.
It has an average vote of 7.2 on TMDB.
5. Frustrated
Afro-American men and women express their views on why some Black men are travelling from the US to Brazil to find sex partners.
6. The Violin Teacher (Tudo Que Aprendemos Juntos)
After failing to be admitted into the OSESP Orchestra, a talented violinist is forced to give music classes to teenagers in a public school. He soon finds his world transformed by the power of music and friendships formed with his pupils.
It has an average vote of 6.6 on TMDB.
7. Ayahuasca, Expansão da Consciência (Ayahuasca, Expansão da Consciência)
(Ayahuasca, Expansão da Consciência)
8. Chico Buarque: Caravanas – Ao Vivo (Chico Buarque: Caravanas – Ao Vivo)
(Chico Buarque: Caravanas – Ao Vivo)
It has an average vote of 10 on TMDB.
9. Tropclip (Tropclip)
Enterprising youths live many adventures when they decide to start a business specializing in making video clips for rock groups.
10. Miller & Fried – The Birth of Football’s Country (Miller & Fried: As Origens do País do Futebol)
In the ending of 19th century Brazil was boiling. The end of slavery, the arrival of immigrants and urbanization moved the country. In this scenario, football comes from England with the young Charles Miller and undergoes a revolution with the magical feet of Arthur Friedenreich.
It has an average vote of 10 on TMDB.
11. Central (Central)
The Central Prison of Porto Alegre was considered the worst in Brazil by a commission of inquiry of the Chamber of Deputies in 2008. Now, the place opens its doors to expose the poorly maintained structure and the life of penitentiaries in unhealthy conditions. Prison officials, detainees, and relatives of prisoners tell how their daily lives are in jail and propose a reflection on the condition of the Brazilian penitentiary system.
It has an average vote of 10 on TMDB.
12. A Farra do Circo (A Farra do Circo)
This documentary highlights the evolution of Brazil's Circo Voador venue from homespun artists' performance space to national cultural institution.
It has an average vote of 9 on TMDB.
13. O Rap Pelo Rap
To do this documentary, the director Pedro Henrique Fávero featured 42 characters - among MCs, DJs and producers - to make a detailed map of its kind in the country. Without mincing words, they speak openly here about 8 topics proposed by the film and try to understand Hip Hop in Brazil. The result is a collection of stories from a lot of fighting, where there are many eternal start-end-start, overcoming the difficulties of being understood and feeling of belonging to a group and many clichés.
It has an average vote of 6.5 on TMDB.
14. Hércules 56 (Hércules 56)
Documentary featuring contemporary interviews with 5 of the revolutionary activists who kidnapped US ambassador Charles Embrick in August 1969 in Rio de Janeiro and some of the political prisoners who were freed from prison in exchange of the ambassador's liberty and flown out of Brazil to Mexico in an army cargo airplane "Hércules 56".
It has an average vote of 5.7 on TMDB.
15. The Salt of the Earth (Le sel de la terre)
During the last forty years, the photographer Sebastião Salgado has been travelling through the continents, in the footsteps of an ever-changing humanity. He has witnessed the major events of our recent history: international conflicts, starvations and exodus… He is now embarking on the discovery of pristine territories, of the wild fauna and flora, of grandiose landscapes: a huge photographic project which is a tribute to the planet's beauty. Salgado's life and work are revealed to us by his son, Juliano, who went with him during his last journeys, and by Wim Wenders, a photographer himself.
It has an average vote of 8.1 on TMDB.
16. Você Também Pode Dar um Presunto Legal (Você Também Pode Dar um Presunto Legal)
Amid the civil-military dictatorship implanted with the 1964 coup, Sergio Muniz had the idea of making a documentary about the action of the Death Squad. At the time, the press still had some freedom to disseminate the work of these death squads formed by police officers of various ranks, and that he acted on the outskirts of cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The victims of police repression were men, poor and black, and this condition is supposed criminals.
17. A kiss for Gabriela
A KISS FOR GABRIELA tells the story of a remarkable woman named Gabriela Leite. An activist for sex workers’ rights for over 30 years, Gabriela was the first sex worker to run for Brazilian Congress. The documentary presents an intimate portrait of her 2010 campaign when she faced 822 opponents and challenged a male dominated political system. Combining an observational style with unrestricted access, it explores what it means to be a prostitute, to be a wife, and most importantly, what it means for a woman representing one of the most stigmatized populations in the world to run for office. Gabriela’s charisma and amazing history of activism engages audiences and encourages them to reflect critically on laws and policies that restrict the rights and possibilities of women like Gabriela globally. For women like Gabriela who make history and challenge stereotypes with their campaigns, it is not whether they win or lose, or even how they play. It’s that they’re in the game at all.
18. Martyrdom (Martírio)
Waving the flag that states every film is political, Vincent Carelli visibilizes in this documentary the cause of the Guarani-Kaiowá: a group of indigenous people that fear their lands, located in the Mato Grosso do Sul, will be confiscated by the State. A territorial conflict born more than one hundred years ago, during the Paraguay war. While fighting against the Brazilian Congress in order not to be evicted from their homes, the 50.000 indigenous people demand the demarcation of the space that belongs to them. With some rigorous investigative work, the Brazilian director tells with his own voice of the social and political injustices suffered by the Guarani people through material he filmed over the course of more than forty years. The archive images, both color and black and white, reveal the crudeness with which they coexist every day: among the violation of their civil rights and the guts with which they confront the usurpers.
It has an average vote of 8.2 on TMDB.
19. Saludos Amigos
A whimsical blend of live action and animation, "Saludos Amigos" is a colorful kaleidoscope of art, adventure and music set to a toe-tapping samba beat. From high Andes peaks and Argentina's pampas to the sights and sounds of Rio de Janeiro, your international traveling companions are none other than those famous funny friends, Donald Duck and Goofy. They keep things lively as Donald encounters a stubborn llama and "El Gaucho" Goofy tries on the cowboy way of life....South American-style.
It has an average vote of 5.8 on TMDB.
20. The Thrill of Brazil
Steve, revue producer in Rio de Janeiro, is still in love with his ex-wife Vicki, his star Linda is in love with Steve and Tito is in love with Linda. Because of this they all get small problems.
It has an average vote of 6 on TMDB.