Rio’s Caixa Cultural Screens Fictions on Brazil’s “Dark” Future

By Beatriz Miranda, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Tomorrow, August 15th, the “Brasil Distópico” (Dystopic Brazil) film exhibit opens at Caixa Cultural, in Centro. Until August 27th, the project screens audiovisual productions that reflect on Brazil’s socio-political scenario and its future consequences.

All the 37 participant sci-fi films share a skeptical, disillusioned perception on Brazil’s panorama, with each filmmaker having presented a singular “prediction” on Brazil’s “dark” future.

For twelve days, “Brasil Distópico” will bring both old and contemporary productions.

In Pieralisi’s “O Quinto Poder” (The fifth power, 1962) and Walter Lima Júnior’s “Brasil ano 2000” (Brazil year 2000, 1969), the Cold War and Brazil’s military dictatorship are the great causes for the country’s catastrophic future. The films will be screened on August 18th, at 5PM, and on the 17th, at 4:50 PM, respectively.

A stronger sci-fi movie plot and aesthetics can be seen in Anchieta’s “Parada 88: o limite de alerta” (Stop 88, the alert’s limit) and De Paula’s “Oceano Atlantis” (Ocean Atlantis, 1993), with both films portraying the planet’s nuclear colapse. Anchieta’s work will be displayed on August 22nd, at 3:30 PM, while De Paula’s will be exhibited on August 24th, at 5PM.

“If we call utopia the concept of an ideal future, we can say that dystopia is the extreme opposite, which is a dark future, where things had gone wrong. The dystopia is characterized by fear and disillusion, with a future that would have been constrained by sophisticated means of control, oppression and vigilance”, explains Rodrigo Almeida, one of “Brasil Distópico” curators.

What’s more, some productions blend aspects of Brazil’s regional culture and traditional folklore to a sci-fi plot, like Pires’ “Abrigo Nuclear” (Nuclear shelter, 1981), exhibited on August 16th, at 2:45 PM; and De Paula’s “Areias Escaldantes” (Scorching sand, 1985), screened at 6:45 PM on the 17th.

Recently released films are also included in “Brasil Distópico” lineup, like Pedroso’s “Brasil S/A” (2014), Antônio’s “A Seita” (The sect, 2015), Ribeiro’s “X-manas” (X-sisters, 2017), Lessa’s “Hiperselva” (Hiperjungle, 2014) and the renowned production “Branco sai, preto fica” (White people leave, black people stay, 2015), directed by Adirley Queirós.

Exhibited on August 16th, at 4:30 PM, the film denounces the police repression at a black music ball from the 1980s through the perspective of a man who came from the future.

Apart from the films, the event promotes a free three-day workshop on science fiction in the Brazilian cinema between August 17th and 19th, at 2:30 PM. Led by Researcher Alfredo Suppia, the classes will discuss the futurism in the Brazilian audiovisual production through an aesthetical, political and historical approach. To participate, one must sign up via email: [email protected].

In addition, two panel discussions will happen at Caixa Cultural: on August 20th, at 5:30 PM, guest participants will discuss the dystopic character of Brazil’s current public policies. On August 24th, at 7 PM, there will be a debate on the “dystopic landscapes of Brazilian cinema”.

What: “Brasil Distópico” (Dystopic Brazil)
When: August 15th – August 27th – see venue to check time details
Where: Caixa Cultural – Avenida Almirante Barroso, 25 – Centro – Tel: (21) 3980-3815
Entrance: R$2 – R$4