Absolute Majority (1964)
A landmark Brazilian documentary capturing the voices and dignity of illiterate rural workers in Northeast Brazil amid profound social inequality.
Absolute Majority - Movie Information
- Original Title: Maioria absoluta
- Release Year: 1964
- Directed by: Leon Hirszman
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Documentary
- Runtime: 19m
- Original Language: Portuguese
- Spoken Languages: Portuguese
- Release Date (Theatrical): January 9, 1964 (Brazil)
- Production Companies: Leon Hirszman Produções Cinematográficas, BR Petrobrás
- Production Countries: Brazil
Absolute Majority - Plot
The documentary depicts the everyday of illiterate rural workers in Northeast Brazil, living under extreme misery. Although incapable of writing, they are aware of their condition and qualified to proposing solutions they hope for to their problems.
Absolute Majority - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a glimpse into this landmark documentary:
Absolute Majority - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Leon Hirszman
Main Cast
- Ferreira Gullar
Writers
- Leon Hirszman
Absolute Majority - FAQs
What is Absolute Majority about?
Absolute Majority is a 1964 Brazilian documentary by Leon Hirszman that follows illiterate rural workers in Northeast Brazil enduring extreme poverty. Despite being unable to read or write, these workers demonstrate sharp awareness of their social conditions and articulate thoughtful visions for the solutions they desperately need.
Who directed Absolute Majority?
Absolute Majority was directed by Leon Hirszman, one of the central figures of Cinema Novo, the influential Brazilian film movement of the 1960s. Hirszman was also the writer of the film, channeling his political and social convictions into this short but striking documentary work.
Why was Absolute Majority banned in Brazil?
Absolute Majority was banned by the Brazilian military dictatorship following the 1964 coup, just weeks after its release. The film’s unflinching portrayal of rural poverty and its implicit critique of social inequality made it politically dangerous in the eyes of the new authoritarian regime that seized power that year.
What is the connection between Absolute Majority and Cinema Novo?
Absolute Majority is a landmark of Cinema Novo, the Brazilian new wave movement that sought to depict social realities with raw honesty and minimal resources. Leon Hirszman, its director, was a core member of the movement, and the film’s focus on poverty and political consciousness embodies Cinema Novo’s defining aesthetic and ideological principles.
When was Absolute Majority released?
Absolute Majority was released on January 9, 1964, in Brazil. Its release came at a historically turbulent moment, just months before the military coup of April 1964, which led to the film being censored and suppressed by the incoming authoritarian government.
How long is Absolute Majority?
Absolute Majority has a runtime of 19 minutes, making it a short documentary. Despite its brevity, the film delivers a concentrated and emotionally resonant portrait of illiteracy and rural poverty in Northeast Brazil, earning lasting recognition as a significant work of Brazilian documentary cinema.
Who narrates Absolute Majority?
Absolute Majority is narrated by Ferreira Gullar, a celebrated Brazilian poet and cultural critic deeply involved in the leftist intellectual movements of the era. His voice lends the film a literary gravity, bridging the testimonies of the rural workers with a broader political and humanistic commentary.
Did Absolute Majority win any awards?
Absolute Majority received significant critical recognition and is widely regarded as one of the most important Brazilian documentaries of the 1960s. It has been celebrated in retrospectives of Cinema Novo and Brazilian cinema history, and its rediscovery after years of censorship cemented its reputation as a vital political and artistic document.
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