Glauber Rocha

Director | Writer

Date of birth : 03/14/1939

Date of death : 08/22/1981

City of birth : Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil

“The purpose of the artist is to infuriate.” Glauber Rocha was an influential Brazilian film director, actor and screenwriter, essential in the consolidation of the Cinema Novo movement. Since his adolescence, he showed a deep interest in the arts and became actively involved in politics, which had a significant influence on his work. His film work reflected the socio-political context of Brazil and the urgency to offer a more authentic representation of Brazilian reality. His first feature film, Barravento (1961), introduced his concept of the “aesthetics of hunger”, which explores the struggle of impoverished and starving peoples, with an incisive critique of religion. Among his most acclaimed works are Deus e o Diabo na Terra do Sol (1964), Terra em Transe (1967) and Antonio das Mortes (1969). These films stand out for their bold political approach, combining mysticism and folklore. Rocha used the camera in a quasi-documentary manner to capture the contradictions of reality, while seeking to transform it. Glauber Rocha's impact on cinema lies in his ability to fuse a critical narrative with an innovative visual aesthetic, challenging established norms and offering a unique vision of the Brazil of his time.