Benjamin Abrahão Botto
Directing
Biography
Benjamin Abrahão Botto (c. 1890 – May 10, 1938) was a Lebanese photographer. He is best known for filming the Cangaço and its leader Virgulino Ferreira da Silva. He was murdered during the Estado Novo period in Brazil. In 1929, Abrahão photographed the cangaceiro leader with the priest, two of the most important figures of the northeast region of Brazil. After the death of Padre Cícero, Abrahão asked and received permission from the infamous Lampião to follow his group in the Caatinga and take the photos that in the future would immortalize them. For that he had the help of cearense Ademar Bezerra de Albuquerque, owner of ABAFILM, lent him the equipment and taught him to use it. The Getúlio Vargas government, which saw Abrahão as an enemy of the regime, seized his work. He was murdered at Serra Talhada (with 42 stab wounds) without either the killer or the motivation for the crime ever surfacing. (Wikipedia)
Known For
Scenes from the daily life of Virgulino Ferreira da Silva—the cangaceiro leader Lampião—and his group, captured by cinematographer Benjamin Abrahão. Their survival strategies in the sertão landscape, their gestures, habits, clothing, and diet are illustrated. Proud of their status, the group's main members are shown displaying their weapons and combat skills in the caatinga. Maria Bonita and Lampião appear in moments of tension and relaxation, highlighting the harmony of the band and, above all, the rigors of life as a cangaceiro. (Cinemateca Brasileira)
Lampião, o Rei do Cangaço
Video recordings of Brazil's most famous bandit, Lampião. Images that were censored in the 1930, but recovered in 2002 and newly edited by Ricardo Alburquerque.