The 15 best Brazilian films in the history of cinema

When we hear about Brazil, we immediately think of the carnivals of Rio de Janeiro, the samba, football and the beautiful beaches that this beautiful country has, but, in general, we do not associate it with the movie theater. Although the Brazilian film industry is not very large, over the years, the Rio de Janeiro nation has produced films of the highest quality with good content, which has allowed it to have a place in Latin American and world cinema.

In the last two decades, Brazilian cinema has climbed very important positions around the world, as its productions They stand out for incorporating important and controversial content in social matters, interpersonal relationships and sadness left by war. Leaving behind those pathetic scripts and not so successful productions of the 80s and 90s.

• We recommend you read: "The 20 best South American films in the history of cinema"

What are the best Brazilian movies?

To emphasize the importance and boom that the seventh art has had in this country, we have brought a list of the best Brazilian films in the history of cinema, which we also invite you to watch.

1. Central of Brazil

Also known as 'Central Station', it is one of the best films that Brazilian cinema has produced. Her story centers around Dora, who was played by the great actress Fernanda Montenegro, who is a retired teacher helping illiterate people write letters to loved ones at Central Station river.

One of her clients, a single mother, is run over and dies, leaving her son an orphan who was left alone in a city where violence and drugs are always present. This play is directed by Walter Salles. At first Dora did not want to help Josué (Vinícius de Oliveira), but as the days went by, the little boy wins her affection and she decides to help him find her father who lives in northwestern Brazil. This film was nominated for Best Actress and Best Foreign Film at the Oscars in 1999.

2. Carandiru

It is a film from 2003, directed by Héctor Babenco, which touches the rough and cruel reality of the prisons of Brazil. His story is based on the experiences of a doctor played by Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos, who works in one of the largest prisons in São Paulo, the Carandiru penitentiary. There, this doctor realizes all the problems that prisoners experience, such as violence, overcrowding, health problems where AIDS is found, among other aspects.

3. City of God

Known throughout the world as 'City of God', it is considered the best Brazilian film of all time. Its plot masterfully captures the violence that exists in the poor neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro generated by criminals who act with impunity and that justice has not been able to stop.

Directed by Kátia Lund and Fernando Meirelles, the film tells the story of Buscapé, a boy who lives in the Cidade de Deus, which is one of the most violent places that exists in the entire city and who wants to get out of that horrible world that has touched him to live.

4. Se Eu Fosse Você

Also known as 'Si Yo Fuera Tú', it is a humorous Brazilian film that will make you laugh and also reflect on the couple's relationship. Claudio and Helena are a married couple where routine has become present, she is a music teacher and he is a well-known publicist.

Despite having successful professions, fights are very frequent between them. And one day, by some unexplained event, both change bodies and seek all means to return to normality. This film is directed by Daniel Filho.

5. Elite troop

It is a film directed by José Padilha, which deals with police issues, and is based on the story of Roberto Nascimento, a captain who is part of the Police Battalion. Operations of the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro that faces a series of vicissitudes when facing the fight against corruption in the district where they work. It has been the winner of numerous awards such as the Golden Bear in the category of best film., the Spondylus Trophy and the Silver Condor Award for the best Ibero-American film.

6. Bus 174

This film is about a documentary that is based on the true story of Sandro do Nascimento. A poor and homeless man who has had a very difficult life and who in 2002 commits one of the most tragic kidnappings that Brazil has ever had.

Sandro tried to rob a group of people traveling on a bus, but it did not go as he expected and the robbery became one of the most viewed hostage situations nationally and internationally. The direction of this work is again under the hand of José Padilha.

7. Pixote A Lei do Mais Fraco

It is a film that addresses the cruel reality faced by children who lived on the streets in the 70s. Under the direction of Héctor Babenco, it tells the story of Fernando Ramos Da Silva known as Pixel, he is a little boy who is taken to a reformatory where he lives a series of difficulties that pushes him to escape from there since he thinks that he is very much on the streets better. After seven years of criminal activity, Pixel dies at the hands of the police.

8. My name is not Johnny

'My Name Is Not Johnny' is a story based on the life of João Guilherme Estrella, a man who has been immersed in the world of drugs since that he was a child, going through his great addiction until he became one of the great drug traffickers of international fame during the 80s and 90s. This film, which is directed by Mauro Lima, shows the lifestyle and the luxuries that he had until his imprisonment.

9. Francisco's Filhos

Also called 'Two Sons of Francisco', is a biographical film that captures the life of one of the most famous country duos in Brazil: Zezé di Camargo & Luciano and directed by Breno Silveira. In this story, the public will know all the situations that happened from his childhood full of poverty to reaching fame; The message conveyed by this film is that you should never give up and not give up on your dreams, which, although it may be difficult at first, perseverance and hard work achieve everything.

10. April Shattered

Behind the Sun, as this Brazilian film directed by Walter Salles is also known, is an adaptation of the book written by the Albanian Ismail Kadaré, where the deepest and most horrible miseries are revealed human. It narrates the events that take place between the rural landowning families of a region of Brazil, where they have been confronting each other for generations over land ownership.

11. O Auto da Compassionate

This Brazilian film is based on a play written by Ariano Suassuna and directed by Guel Arraes, which portrays the lives of two young men from the northeastern part of the country named João Grilo and Chicó. They are both poor and to get out of that situation, they deceive all the inhabitants of the town. To achieve salvation they will face Jesus, Our Lady of Aparecida and the Devil; it is a sarcasm against religion, society and human sins.

12. What Hours Ela Volta?

It tells the story of Val, a woman who lives in the northeast of Brazil and who, in order to provide a better lifestyle for her daughter Jéssica, moves to São Paulo in search of better job opportunities, leaving her little girl in the city native. When Jéssica turns 18, she decides to live with her mother, causing a series of conflicts between the mother, daughter and her bosses. A work brought to the big screen by the direction of Anna Muylaert.

13. Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho

It is a romantic Brazilian film, directed by Daniel Ribeiro, which touches on the theme of sexuality and recounts the life of a teenage boy with a disability. Being blind, he frantically seeks his freedom, because his mother is overprotective and does not allow Leonardo to have a life like any other young man his age. With the arrival of a new student named Gabriel, Leonardo experiences many things about himself and his sexuality that he had not experienced or felt before.

14. O Ano Em Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias

Also called as 'The Year My Parents Went on Vacation', it is a film from the year 1970 and directed by Cao Hamburger, which talks about Mauro. A twelve-year-old boy whose passion is soccer and whose life changes when his parents unexpectedly who are political activists, decide to go on vacation and is left in the care of Shlomo, an old neighbor Jewish. This film talks about the damage caused by the Brazilian dictatorship in families.

15. Bug of Sete Cabeças

It is a story brought to the screen by Laís Bodanzky, which is based on the life of Neto personified by Rodrigo Santoro, who is a young man who suffers a horrible experience when his father Wilson (Othon Bastos) finds a marijuana cigarette in the pocket of his his jacket. Wilson believes that the best solution for his son's addiction problem is to commit him to an insane asylum., creating a very stressful relationship between them and Neto will know in that place the dirtiest of human feelings.

Brazilian films have a very high quality, good plots, actors, actresses, directors and writers of great professionalism that make Brazilian cinema able to compete with the cinematography of any other country.