Santa Marta: two weeks in the “Favela”

“Santa Marta – two weeks in the Favela” shows the daily life and world view of people living on Dona Marta hill, a shanty-town of 10.000 people located within the middle-class southern zone of Rio de Janeiro. The film focuses on visible and latent violence and discrimination demonstrated through police actions and racial tensions and shows the lack of opportunities in education and the terrible working conditions confronted by the inhabitants. But the hill is also joyful: the music in the film is performed by singers and artist of the shanty-town, there are many festivities and they behold a magnificent view of the city. These are people who never lose hope. The local neighborhood association plays a pivotal role in organizing and defending the interest of the community which faces the endemic problems of delinquency and violence with courage. Several forms of religion offer other forms of resistance and cohesion. This video was filmed in July 1986, one year before the fights for control of the drug traffic made the headlines in the local and foreign press.
Conegut per: Santa Marta: two weeks in the slums