Terra Estrangeira (1996) | Film Screening, Thursday 9 November, 6pm | SH 3.107

Thursday 9 November, 6pm, SH 3.107

Original Portuguese Version with English Subtitles

Terra Estrangeira: Cinematographic Constructions of Lisbon from the Perspective of
Migration
During Bolsonaro’s presidency (2019-22), many Brazilians migrated to Europe. This heavy
migration movement was preceded by the one in 1990 (Plano Collor) and the one around 1999
(devaluation of the real / “efeito samba”). Many Brazilians ended up in Portugal, also due to
the close historical linkages. Since 1986, when Portugal entered the EU, the country has been
subject to strong social changes in a roller coaster of neoliberal rise and debt crisis. Brazilians
joined other immigrant groups, especially from Cabo Verde, Angola, and later from Eastern
Europe. These people settled in a different Lisbon than the one advertised in tourism. They are
often on a journey of no return.

In this context, Lisbon assumes an emblematic imaginary role as a place of arrival and
reception. This sets the framework for cinematic constructions of Lisbon from a migrants’
perspective. Terra Estrangeira (1996; directed by Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas) is a
largely improvised low budget production (black and white) with unknown faces and faces
familiar from the telenovelas. It has become a cult film in the production of director Walter
Salles (Central Station; The Motorcycle Diaries) and is also the inspiration for Portuguese
filmmaker José Barahona’s literary adaptation of Luiz Ruffato’s tale of an ordinary emigrant’s
fate in Estive em Lisboa e lembrei de você (2015).

Further Screenings
Be our guest at other films on Lisbon during winter 2023/24:
Oct. 26 Dans la Ville Blanche (1983; Alain Tanner). German subtitles.
Nov. 2 Zona J (1998; Leonel Vieira). Portuguese subtitles.
Jan. 25 Estive em Lisboa e lembrei de você (2015; José Barahona). No subtitles.
February 1 Silêncio – Vozes de Lisboa (2022; Céline Coste Carlisle, Judit Kalmár). German
subtitles.

All films are OV Portuguese. The screenings take place in SH 3.107 of the GU and are free of
charge.
Contact: radlwimmer@em.uni-frankfurt.de