136 years ago, Brazil’s first president, Marechal Deodoro da Fonseca, led his army to overthrow the empire of Dom Pedro II and proclaimed the Republic of Brazil. As a result, this historical milestone changed the fate of the country and was later made into a national holiday by Eurico Gaspar Dutra in 1949. In 2002, under the government of Fernando Enrique Cardoso, this decision was revoked and became regulated by Law No. 10,607/02.
The Declaration of the Republic, also known as the “Republican Coup” or “Coup d’état of 1889,” was the result of coordination between sectors of society dissatisfied with the state system. monarchy. During this period, military personnel and civilians demanded to express their political positions and to participate through elections along with social groups, which led to these classes coming together to overthrow the existing old government.
To understand more about how this event happened, check out these 7 pieces that tell the story of Brazil’s history.
1. Tenement (1978)
Based on the classic novel by Alucio Azevedo, O Cortizo is a drama about life in a 19th-century Rio de Janeiro tenement house, where different social classes coexist in an environment marked by inequality, exploitation, and social tension.
The plot depicts the conflict between the residents: Joao Roman (Armando Bogus), an ambitious Portuguese man who makes a living by exploiting others, and the young Rita Baiana (Betty Faria), a seductive woman who symbolizes sexual conflict. Throughout the story, the characters confront their own ambitions, passion While unhappiness and violence spread throughout the tenement, so too did power relations.
where to watch: YouTube.
2. Carlota Joaquina: Brazilian Princess (1994)
A Brazilian romantic comedy directed by Carla Camurati, the film satirizes the life of Carlota Joaquina, a Spanish infant who became a Brazilian princess through her marriage to Don João VI during the colonial period.
The work deals with palace intrigue, the difficult relationship between the couple, and the events that brought the Portuguese royal family to Brazil to escape Napoleon’s invasion. Additionally, the story explores the princess’s daily life in a humorous manner and highlights her unique traits that have made her mark in the history books.
where to watch:Netflix.
3. Canudos War (1997)
This Brazilian film directed by Sergio Rezende is based on true events. war The Canudos conflict was a conflict that occurred in the interior of Bahia at the end of the 19th century. The plot depicts the formation of a community of Canudos led by Antonio Conselheiro (José Wilker), a religious and messianic leader.
As Canudos grows, it comes into conflict with local authorities and the Republican government, which see the community as a threat. From this began political tensions between power and faith, culminating in military intervention and suffocating community leaders.
where to watch: YouTube.
4. Maua – Emperor and King (1999)
Directed by Sergio Rezende, the film Mahua – Emperors and Kings is a biographical drama that follows the trajectory of Irineu Evangelista de Sousa, played by Paulo Betti, and focuses on his childhood. businessman Modernization and subsequent bankruptcy amidst the political and economic conflicts of the 19th century. The film, whose cast includes Mal Madell, Hugo Calvana and Claudio Correa e Castro, reconsiders the conflict between the empire’s progressive and conservative forces.
By revealing the deterioration of imperial institutions, resistance to modernization, the clash of economic interests and political fragility of the empire’s final stages, this story illuminates the scenario of instability that would pave the way for the collapse of the republic in 1889 a few years later.
where to watch:MUBI and YouTube.
5. Columl: A Brazilian Invention (2001)
Starring Selton Melo, Camila Pitanga, and Deborah Secco, and directed by Guell Arraez, the film is a historical comedy that mixes real and fictional elements. Exploring the arrival of Diogo Álvarez, known as Karamul, in Brazil in the 16th century, the plot tells the story of the protagonist after he is shipwrecked on the Brazilian coast and welcomed by Tupinambas.
In the community, Caramulu gets involved in comical and surreal situations as he experiences events. historical, While experiencing Portuguese colonization and interaction with indigenous people in a humorous way, you will experience the cultural clash between Europeans and indigenous people and the construction of Brazilian identity.
where to watch:MUBI and YouTube.
6. Imperial Family (2012)
series”family “Imperial,” produced and directed by Cao Hamburger in collaboration with Gabriel Barros, Theo Popovic, and Rafael Gomez, demonstrates a historically oriented approach that mixes fantasy with real-life episodes from 19th-century Brazil. back projection Simulate period scenarios with an emphasis on settings, costumes, and iconography associated with the imperial era.
The series follows Iara, Jonas, Lucrecia, and Alfonso in a time-travel story that takes viewers through the circumstances surrounding the arrival of the royal family, as well as the daily customs and political conflicts that preceded the fall of the monarchy. The plot contains direct references to the milestones that paved the way for the declaration of the Republic, and allows us to visualize the social changes, administrative tensions, and power struggles that characterized the end of the Second Reign. All of this is presented in a light but down-to-earth manner to facilitate understanding of this important moment in Brazilian history.
where to watch: YouTube.
7. A story of love and anger (2013)
The Brazilian animated film A Tale of Love and Fury, directed by Luis Bolognesi, depicts the life of Paulo, an immortal man who experiences and engages with important historical moments in Brazil over the centuries, including colonization, military dictatorship, and an apocalyptic future.
His journey is marked by his romance with Janaina, the woman in his life, and he faces difficulties and adversity at different times. In each cycle, Paulo’s struggles and passion intertwine with milestones in Brazilian history as he attempts to break the cycle of pain and violence that keeps him trapped in an immortal destiny.
where to watch: YouTube.
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