The wild swings and crazy canvas of MACUNAIMA gave way to a direct and deeply subversive narrative of a historical Brazilian uprising in THE CONSPIRATORS. In 1789 a group of landowners, intellectuals and others, inspired by the American Revolution, rose up against Portuguese occupiers. Here, de Andrade drew the ire of the political regime, with his thinly veiled critique of contemporary military dictatorship.

About this series:

Joaquim Pedro de Andrade is one of the most important figures of Brazil’s Cinema Novo period and his film MACUNAIMA (aka JUNGLE FREAKS) helped to set the tone for this style of film that, much like its musical analogue, Tropicalia, gave the psychedelic and countercultural movements that were then sweeping the world a uniquely Brazilian beat. If you love John Waters’ and Lina Wertmuller’s approach to film narrative, we think you will enjoy these films.