The Hijacking of Flight 375, Marighella and more films that show the power of Brazilian cinema

There are those who say that Brazilian cinema is only made up of bad comedies. The reality, however, is far from this simplification, which only intends to undermine the strength of national productions responsible for impacting and enchanting moviegoers’ hearts all over the world.

On Brazilian Cinema Day, the Rolling Stone BrazilO CinemaBuzz and the With you!made a selection of recent films, which show the strength of our cinema, not only in comedies, but in genres such as drama, suspense, action, true crime, science fiction and more. Check out the list below:

The hijacking of Flight 375

Based on a true story, The hijacking of Flight 375 tells the story of Nonato (Jorge Paz, Marighella) who, shaken by the economic crisis in Brazil, decides to hijack a plane to throw it over the Palácio do Planalto, in Brasília, and kill the then president of Brazil, José Sarney.

The long Marcus Baldini (Bruna Surfistinha) explores action, a genre little explored in Brazil, and has an air of overproduction, complete with special effects replicating a very dangerous maneuver practiced by the plane’s pilot, Murilo (Danilo Grangheia, Hebe: The Star of Brazil) and recovered by passengers who witnessed the event.

Where to watch? Available on Star+.

Nightjar

In Nightjar, the residents of the small country village, which takes its name from the film, discover that the community is no longer on any map. Little by little, they realize that they are being attacked and need to act to identify the enemy and collectively create a means of defense.

Winner of the Jury Prize at the Cannes Festival, the film Kleber Mendonça Filho It is Juliano Dornellesin Aquarius (2016), is considered one of the best and most influential examples of recent Brazilian cinema. Mixing genres such as action and suspense, the provocative plot is very direct in its sociopolitical and cultural criticism, sarcasm and violence.

Where to watch? Available on Globoplay.

Coal

In Coal, a peasant family struggles to care for their sick patriarch. One day, however, an Argentine drug lord offers them a substantial amount of money, but on the condition of allowing him to kill the old man and take his place as part of his efforts to hide from criminal prosecution.

With Maeve Jinkings (The sound around) in the cast, the director’s feature film Carolina Markowicz (Toll) is the type of work that doesn’t let the viewer walk away unscathed. In it, we observe a world of hypocrisy in a rural area, focusing on a family with apparently solid values, but which is heading towards moral destruction, something that Markowicz does so without giving up an acidic and sometimes dark humor.

Where to watch? Available on Globoplay.

Property

A reclusive fashion designer (Malu Galli, Lost paradise) hides in his armored car to protect himself from a revolt by workers on his family’s farm. Separated by an impenetrable layer of glass, two universes are about to collide.

In Property, the director Daniel Bandeira (Risk Friends) builds the narrative based on social criticism, using political polarization to provoke the viewer. In this way, the film delivers tension that grows as the plot progresses, providing a surprising ending.

Where to watch? Available on Netflix.

Good Manners

Directed by the duo Juliana Rojas (Mouth to mouth) It is Marco Dutra (When I Was Alive), Good Manners mixes elements of drama, fantasy and horror. The plot revolves around clear (Isabel Zuaa, Peter’s Journey), a black nurse hired to babysit the rich and lonely woman’s unborn child A-N-A (Marjorie Estiano, Under pressure). As the pregnancy progresses, dark secrets begin to emerge, revealing a deep and disturbing connection between clear and the baby.

Combining elements of Brazilian folklore with a contemporary and socially conscious narrative, Good Manners transcends the limits of conventional horror, offering a cinematic experience rich in symbolism and depth, as well as exploring universal issues such as identity, motherhood and the mysteries of the supernatural.

Where to watch? Available on Netflix.

Sertânia

Sertânia portrays the life of Antão (Vertin Moura, Cangaço Novo), a lonely cowboy, who lives in the Brazilian northeastern backlands, in a monotonous and lonely routine. When he is injured, arrested and left for dead by the gang of Jesuíno (Julio Adrião, Elite Squad 2: The Enemy Is Now Someone Else), his feverish and delirious mind recalls all the events.

Highly praised by Brazilian critics, the film Geraldo Sarno (The Earth Burns) seems distant from its time, with strong influences from Cinema Novo, and a poetic and reflective approach to the life and landscapes of the Brazilian backlands.

Where to watch? Available for purchase and rent on Google Play Movies & TV.

Marighella

Commanding a group of young guerrillas, Carlos Marighella (Your Jorge, Asteroid City) tries to publicize his fight against the civil dictatorship to the Brazilian people, but censorship is against the revolution. Your main opponent is the police officer Pike (Bruno Gagliasso, Bionics), which labels him as a public enemy of the country.

debut film by Wagner Moura (Civil war) in the direction, Marighella addresses militancy, resistance against the oppressive regime and the guerrilla’s trajectory as a writer and politician, proposing a necessary vision of a tumultuous historical period in Brazil, celebrating the courage and legacy of one of the most emblematic leaders of resistance against the military dictatorship.

Where to watch? Available on Globoplay.

The Name of Death

In history, Julius (Marco Pigossi, Gen V) is a family man, a charitable man and a source of pride for his parents. However, he hides another identity beneath the exemplary facade: he is a professional killer responsible for 492 deaths.

The Name of Deathin Henry Goldman (Jean Charles) was inspired by the book of the same name by Klester Cavalcanti about Brazilian history Julio Santana, a hitman with a 35-year career. The film offers a provocative and disturbing vision of the underworld of Brazilian crime, exploring complex ethical and moral issues through its protagonist’s journey.

Where to watch? Available for purchase and rent on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV (iTunes) and Google Play Filmes & TV.

Neon Ox

Iremar (Juliano Cazarré, Pantanal) is a cattle rancher, who travels around the Northeast working in vaquejadas. However, her biggest dream is to drop everything and start a new career in fashion as a stylist at the Polo de Confecções do Agreste.

Per Neon Oxdirector Gabriel Mascaro (Divine Love) was praised for the way it captures the essence of northeastern culture in an authentic and poetic way by exploring themes of identity, desire, social class and the complexities of human relationships. The film also won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.

Where to watch? Unfortunately, the film is not available on Brazilian streaming platforms.

White Leaves, Black Stays

The film of Adirley Queirós (Mato Seco in Flames) takes place in a near and dystopian future on the outskirts of Brasília, where two survivors of a police shooting, Marquim It is Dilmarreflect on their experiences and traumas.

In White Sai, Black Staysthe director uses a mix of documentary and fiction to address issues of structural racism, police violence and black resistance, mixing genres to explore these themes in an intense and provocative way.

Where to watch? Unfortunately, the film is not available on Brazilian streaming platforms.

Divine Love

In Divine Love, Joana (Dira Paes, Pantanal), a notary’s clerk, uses her position at work to save couples who arrive to get divorced. She does everything she can to get clients to participate in religious reconciliation therapy, in the name of a larger project to maintain the sacred family within faith and marital fidelity.

Directed by Gabriel Mascaroin Neon Ox, is a provocative work, which is not limited to criticizing the use of religion in contemporary Brazil, but also explores themes such as identity, sexuality and the impact of technology on human relationships.

Where to watch? Available on Globoplay.

My Name is Baghdad

My Name is Baghdad tells the story of Baghdad (Grace Orsato), a young skateboarder, who faces challenges in her everyday life, including gender prejudice and intolerance. To escape this, she finds support and solidarity in her group of skater friends.

Directed by Caru Alves de Souza (Everything is the same… SQN), the film addresses themes of identity, female empowerment, friendship and self-acceptance, in addition to showing skateboarding as a form of expression and resistance.

Where to watch? Available on Star+.

Benzinho

The history of Benzinho focuses on Irene (Karine Teles, Gilda’s Last Days), a dedicated mother, who manages a house full of love, despite financial difficulties and everyday challenges.

When your eldest son, Fernando (Konstantinos Sarris, The Days Were Like This), is invited to play handball in Germany, Irene is faced with the prospect of her son leaving home and the changes this will bring to the family dynamic.

From a sincere and moving portrait of a mother struggling to keep her family together, the director Gustavo Pizzi (Scratched) explores the complexity of family relationships and the search for happiness amid everyday difficulties, all in a genuine way.

Where to watch? Available on Looke.

What has been the best film of 2024 so far? Vote for your favorite!

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