Movielogr
Quilombo (1984)
Directed by Carlos Diegues
Overview
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.
Length 120 minutes
Actors
Tony Tornado | Antônio Pompêo | Zezé Motta | Mauricio do Valle | Grande Otelo | Zózimo Bulbul | Milton Gonçalves | Daniel Filho | Vera Fischer | Carlos Kroeber | Antônio Pitanga | Ruy Polanah | Jofre Soares | Thelma Reston | Kim Negro | Chico Diaz | Léa Garcia | Emmanuel Cavalcanti | Bené Batista | Jonas Bloch | Arduíno Colassanti | Jorge Coutinho | Babaú da Mangueira | Roberto de Cleto | Aniceto do Império | Sabrina Fidalgo | Jorge Fino | Thiago Justino | Markus Konká | Carlos Lagoeíro | Swami Leeladahar | Wilson Macalé | Eduardo Machado | Sergio Maia | Scarlet Moon | Luis Motta | Sandro Solviatti