Name: Santo e Jesus, Metalúrgicos
Genre: Documentary
Duration: 56 min
Rating: 7.2
Cast: Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns, Santo Dias da Silva, Cássio Scatena

A documentary on two tragedies from the strikers movement

When audiences watch the many documentaries on the topic of workers strike during the final years of the military regime in Brazil, they always carry a certain atmosphere of tension due to the then present state of exception, authorities following each strike happening around São Paulo and metropolitan region. Anybody could be arrested for simply demanding their rights. But we can also witness the power and effect those auto-workers had in fighting for better working conditions, their voices were heard by the bosses. Slowly, those movements formed great foundations to protect the rights of workers from all sources of labor, whose rights were not protected, from salary problems, unpaid overtime to lack of health protection in risky environment, with many cases of injuries or even deahts on the job.

Unlike the documentaries made by Roberto Gervitz, Leon Hirszman and many others, this one concerns about tragedies that happened at the time in a similar perspective. Stories that seemed to be washed away, or are little known to the public. Antonio Paulo Ferraz and Cláudio Kahns deliver a sad, poignant and revealing take about two workers who were murdered by simply asking for their workers right to be enforced.

In 1978, in the many factories in the Brás area, Nelson Pereira de Jesus was gunned down by a lawyer after complaining about unpaid salary and other problems in the company. The lawyer worked for the bosses, and sensing to be threatned his act was, according to him, in self-defense. He appears in the documentary and gets interviewed by the filmmakers, but he doesn't convince us much. The second case concerns syndicate leader Santo Dias da Silva, who was closely following those events and was behind a few strikes. In 1979, he was killed by a soldier during a tumultous strike.

Kahns & Ferraz simply let the images speak for itself, no voice-over telling us about the tragedies, which turns everything into a haunting experience, but also one that doesn't take sides. You have witnesses sharing their fresh memories (the project was filmed between 1978 and 1983), the authorities investigating the cases, and the lawyers representing the victim's families.

What hits the most is the thought, the idea that basic rights in a working place were perceived as too much for those in charge of a company, the bosses, the businessmen. It's like one has several obligations to be fulfilled, but that same one should accept what comes. It's often the complaint that only the Comunist regime got rid off whoever opposed their views; but the same machinery opposed to that "threat" allowed that authorities, either government or company leaders, shouldn't not be questioned. It's not even the case of getting fired, one could simply die because of complaning, demanding. A shocking reality after the abolishment of slavery, but the modern times always manage to time and again present similar scenarios as the one depicted in the piece, or the insanely amount of legal action taken against companies who fail to protect workers or allow toxic environments, disrespect and other problems.

To conclude, it comes with this update that I had to research related with one of the killings: lawyer Cássio Scatena, allegedy member of the CCC (a sector destined to attack Comunists in Brazil), was convicted of Nelson's murder in 1986, but got a suspected sentence in 1987 (years not covered by the doc).

Goes to show how the system protected those who had means. Just watch the film and let many thoughts sink in, and see how distant we grew from those days, yet there are times when it feels very little has changed. 8/10.

Portuguese-language cinema, spanning Portugal, Brazil, and other Lusophone regions, focuses on history, cultural identity, and the struggles of ordinary people, often framed with poetic or allegorical storytelling. In Portugal, cinema has emphasized meditative pacing and philosophical depth, reflecting on memory and tradition. In Brazil, it has often been politically charged and socially vibrant, highlighting inequality and resilience while experimenting with popular and avant-garde forms.

Alexandre Rodrigues in City of God (2002)

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

The murder of a worker, Nelson Pereira de Jesus, which happened in São Paulo in 1978, prompts an investigation into the motives and working conditions in a factory in the Brás neighborhood. Santo Dias, a labor leader who works at the same site, recounts the facts surrounding Nelson's death and offers his political views on the conditions of the workers in the Metalworkers' Union and other issues. In 1979 Santo Dias was also killed during a strike by a soldier of the Military Police.

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Santo Dias da Silva in Santo e Jesus, Metalúrgicos (1983)

Cássio Scatena in Santo e Jesus, Metalúrgicos (1983)

Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns in Santo e Jesus, Metalúrgicos (1983)

Santo e Jesus, Metalúrgicos

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