It ́s All True: Media, Fiction and Reality in Brazilian Crime Films

Authors

  • Luiza Lusvarghi Universidade Nove de Julho

Abstract

The analysis of the relationship between reality and Brazilian cinema is rich and reflects the country's history. At the onset of Brazilian cinema, crime films focused on the felonies that occupied the main headlines were released to compete against foreign productions, which prevailed in the market. With the rise of television, cinema lost this function of commenting on reality. However, during the military dictatorship, crime films put the reality of the street back on the screen in a more down to earth language than "New Cinema", with "O Assalto ao Trem Pagador" ("Assault on the Pay Train" - 1962), "A Grande Cidade" ("The Big City" - 1966) and "Lúcio Flávio, Passageiro da Agonia" ("Lúcio Flávio, Passenger of Agony"). In the process of resurgence, "Cidade de Deus" ("City of God" - 2002) represents a new phase in this genre of cinematography, followed by "Tropa de Elite 1" ("Elite Squad 1" 2007), whose sequel, in 2011, beat the record as the most viewed film in the history of Brazilian cinema.

Keywords:

whodunit, film history, Brazilian cinema, police journalism

Author Biography

Luiza Lusvarghi, Universidade Nove de Julho

Licenciada en Ciencias de la Comunicación Social, Orientación en Periodismo (PUC SP); Maestria, Doctorado y Postdoctorado en Ciencias de la Comunicación  (ECA USP e UFPE). Profesora del Departamiento de Comunicación de la Universidade Nove de Julho