Marco Altberg

Short documentary film about the afrobrazilian religion Candomblé.

Young guy from the poor Northeast region of Brazil comes to Rio de Janeiro to try his luck. Naturally, he is faced with many adversities along the way.

The film reveals the moments that preceded the Samba Schools' competitive parade in Rio de Janeiro's 1996 carnival. Narrated by actor Hugo Carvana and filmed by three separate 16mm camera units, the documentary focuses exclusively on the gathering of each school before its parade at the Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí - the real and imaginary space where everything happens.

Márcia Haydée is a Brazilian dancer of worldwide consecration, known as the "Callas of dance", for her great interpretive power. In her career, she performed at the Ballet of the Marquis de Cuevas (FRA), but it was at the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany under the direction of John Cranko, who in the early 1960s she became the choreographer's muse and was revealed as a great performer and dancer. In the 1970s, after Cranko's death, Márcia took over the management of the company and stayed ahead for 20 years. She worked alongside big names such as Richard Cragun, Rudolf Nureyev, Jorge Donn, Maurice Bejárt, John Neumeier.

The Caravana Rolidei rolls into town with the Gypsy Lord at the mike: he does magic tricks, the erotic Salomé dances, and the mute Swallow performs feats of strength. A young accordion player is completely enamored of Salomé, and he begs to come along. The Gypsy Lord shrugs, and the accordionist and his pregnant wife, Dasdô, join the troupe.

Roberto and Carol are a loving couple, raising studious and intelligent children. However, an unexpected event will shake the family's structures.

Quilombo dos Palmares was a real-life democratic society, created in Brazil in the 17th century. This incredibly elaborate (and surprisingly little-known) film traces the origins of Quilombo, which began as a community of freed slaves. The colony becomes a safe harbor for other outcasts of the world, including Indians and Jews. Ganga Zumba (Toni Tornado) becomes president of Quilombo, the first freely elected leader in the Western Hemisphere. Naturally, the ruling Portuguese want to subjugate Zumba and his followers, but the Quilombians are ready for their would-be oppressors. The end of this Brave New World is not pleasant, but the followers of Zumba and his ideals take to the hills, where they honor his memory to this day. Writer/director Carlos Diegues takes every available opportunity to compare the rise and fall of Quilombo with the state of affairs in modern-day Brazil.