Instituto Nacional de Cinema (INC)

Also known as A World Apart, this Brazilian documentary series by Arne Sucksdorff was produced during his years living in Mato Grosso with his wife Maria da Graça and local collaborators. Filmed between 1970 and 1976, it records everyday life, landscapes, and wildlife of the Pantanal wetlands, highlighting both the beauty of the region and the pressures facing its environment. Combining observational footage with an ecological perspective, Mundo à Parte extends Sucksdorff’s work in På jordens baksida (1972), continuing his exploration of Brazil’s natural world and the communities who live within it.

It is the first film produced at the extinct ICA (Instituto Central de Artes), in a co-production between UnB (Universidade de Brasília) and the also extinct INC (Instituto Nacional de Cinema). Held at the Festa do Culto ao Mito do Divino Espírito Santo in Pirenópolis, state of Goiás, in 1968, it was completed in 1969, in Rio de Janeiro. The film is extremely important for the memory of Brazilian popular culture and the state of Goiás, as it is a work of art about this popular festival, and not just a documentary record, as it reflects its cultural character. Today the party is considered Cultural Heritage of Brazil by IPHAN.

In Aparecida do Norte, São Paulo, devotion to Saint Benedict has been constant since 1828. Folk groups from various regions of the country sing and dance, while the King, Queen, and their vassals, carrying the image of Saint Benedict, walk through the streets toward the church. The city is covered with rose petals and confetti. At night, after the solemn mass, a large fireworks display lights up the city.