Glauber Rocha’s Maranhão 66 portrays the grim reality of poverty and political disillusionment in Brazil during the governor’s inauguration in 1966. What stuck out to me was Rocha’s decision to focus on the people affected by his leadership rather than the governor himself. Instead of celebrating the event, Rocha emphasizes the hardships of Maranhão inhabitants, including poverty, a lack of education, and horrible living circumstances. This made me think about how political pledges frequently fail to solve the underlying challenges in society.

One of the most essential takeaways from this film is how Rocha uses cinema as a political tool. By emphasizing people’s voices, Rocha draws the viewer’s focus away from the glamour of politicians and toward the realities of inequity. This decision felt particularly significant because it highlighted the distance between government leaders and the people they represent. What I liked best about the film was how Rocha left room for interpretation. He does not offer remedies or promote a certain message; rather, he reveals the raw truth, asking viewers to think critically about leadership and systemic inequity. It showed me how effective documentary filmmaking can be in bringing societal issues to light. Rocha’s work serves as a reminder that films may challenge authority and highlight underrepresented perspectives, which I believe is tremendously vital in cinema.