Quilombo dos Palmares was a real-life democratic society, created in Brazil in the 17th century. This incredibly elaborate (and surprisingly little-known) film traces the origins of Quilombo, which began as a community of freed slaves. The colony becomes a safe harbor for other outcasts of the world, including Indians and Jews. Ganga Zumba (Toni Tornado) becomes president of Quilombo, the first freely elected leader in the Western Hemisphere. Naturally, the ruling Portuguese want to subjugate Zumba and his followers, but the Quilombians are ready for their would-be oppressors. The end of this Brave New World is not pleasant, but the followers of Zumba and his ideals take to the hills, where they honor his memory to this day. Writer/director Carlos Diegues takes every available opportunity to compare the rise and fall of Quilombo with the state of affairs in modern-day Brazil.
as Ganga Zumba
as Zumbi
as Dandara
as Domingos Jorge Velho
as Babá
as Stone Man
as Fernão Carrilho
as Ana de Ferro
as Tourinho
as Acaiuba
as Navarro
as Canindé
as Mrs. Olímpia
as Man of Corn
as Anunciação
as Lins
as Ibualama / Xangô
as Samuel
as Blaer
as Salé
as Father Mello
as Iabu
as Tité
as Katambo
as André Tourunho
as Bernardo
as Cabinda / Xangô
as Teodoro (as Sérgio Maia)
as Bezerra
as Capitão-do-mato
