Glauber Rocha

Glauber Rocha, motion-picture director who was a leading figure in Brazil’s Cinema Novo (“New Cinema”). Rocha’s avant-garde films depict Brazil’s history and upheavals in its social and political scene in a stylized, often violent manner. He began his career as a journalist and film critic, and his first short film, Pátio (1959), caught the attention of critics and prompted his rise to fame. He studied Law. He also directed theatre pieces, wrote movie criticisms and took part in the creation and development of the 'cinema novo' movement in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, becoming its theoretical leader and first embassador in Europe. After "Barravento"(1962), "Black God, White Devil"(1964), "Entranced Earth"(1967) and "Antonio das Mortes"(1969), he won various international prizes. As he symbolized the feelings of the ideology of May 1968, he became very popular in Europe and America. Rocha was at odds politically with Brazil’s rulers, and his conflicts with Brazilian authorities led to his leaving the country in 1970. He filmed in Africa, Spain and Portugal, and returned to Brazil in the late 1970s, where he also hosted the popular politics TV show "Abertura". His last film was the controversial "The Age of the Earth"(1980).