Name: Alcântara - Cidade Morta
Genre: Documentary, Short
Duration: 10 min
Cast: Cecil Thiré

The fascinating aspect of this short documentary comes to its quiet and strangely beautiful presentation of the city of Alcântara, located in the state of Maranhão. We have a brief exposition from actor/narrator Cecil Thiré talking about the city's importance during the Colony period in Brazil, as a major source of income with products and supplies sent to Portugal, how the elite established there with its constructions and churches, but later on all we see are ruins of the buildings, nature and forest taking over the space, a complete state of abandonment - but some of the constructions were somewhat well preserved.

A curious view of everything, no major input from historians or other figures, all we have are the images from Alcântara followed by the calm soundtrack by guitarist Baden Powell. And a peculiar random image, at the final minutes of the short, of an American spaceship being launched, made me remember why the city's name was familiar. Many years after this film Alcântara had a military base built, designed for the launch of rockets, the early developments of Brazil's space program. I couldn't find anything about the place already being selected for such purpose back in the late 1960's and/or why it took so long to get things done (early 1980's). All we know is about its strategical position with the line of Equator that favors for such ideals. Though seen as a ghost town, Alcântara is anything but, as there are population, which also includes many native quilombolas.

Sergio Sans turns this short documentary into a quite fine experience to be seen and admired, one that does not leave you bored or uninterested.

7/10.

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 short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

A short documentary revealing the marks of time, colonization and exploitation of the territory of Alcântara, a city located in the state of Maranhão, northeast of Brazil.

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Alcântara - Cidade Morta

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