Balbino Daniel de Paula (Pai Balbino)

Inspired by the life of the french-born photographer and ethnographer, Pierre Verger, the movie follows his journey between Bahia, Brazil and Benin, Oriental Africa, showing places and people he met and his life study project: the Candomblé culture.

The film is narrated by Riobaldo, who takes us into his life as a gunman and shares his experiences and conflicts. Throughout the plot, he becomes involved with several charismatic groups and leaders, including the feared Hermógenes. Riobaldo's heart is won by Diadorim, a brave and mysterious young man who becomes the love of his life. Through Riobaldo's narrative, the author explores the complexities of the human soul, delving into the duality between good and evil. Adaptation of the acclaimed masterpiece "Grande Sertão: Veredas", written by Guimarães Rosa.

The friendship between Jorge Amado, Dorival Caymmi, and Carybé, artists who were largely responsible for creating an image of the culture of Bahia that persists to this day, and who believed that the strength of their work lay in documenting what they saw on the streets.

In 1996, filmmaker André Luiz Oliveira started preproduction of Viva o Povo Brasileiro, a film adaptation of the novel by João Ubaldo Ribeiro. Principal photography went on for nine years, but the production was shut down after a series of unfortunate events. This documentary retells that story, repurposing the fictional footage and chronicling the work both in front and behind the scenes.