"Contestação" ("Rebellion") presents the importance of protests and freedom of speech, to dare, to think, to act, to be bold and not
being intimidated by great names or authority. By presenting images of social/political protests around the world the director raises awareness to
audiences in Brazil about the urge to raise their voices and march on the streets during the military regime, when prisons, arrests and deaths were
taking over many students and workers who dared to challenge the military government.
It's a miracle a project like this got released at the time when
censorship was rampant, it wasn't censored or confiscated and the movie is available to all audiences today. At the conclusion, there's even subtitles
in several languages that present the quote I put in the opening. It's a must-see for audiences around the globe because it shows the importance about
protests, to contest and challenge figures of authority since they don't have the last word on anything when people are united on a common cause.
Here,
besides the Brazilian protests, there are the march for racial equality, protests against the Vietnam War, May 68 in Paris; and the images from different leaders both from governments (Nixon, DeGaulle) and dictatorships like the one by Hitler;
and the faces who fought against repression such as MLK, Lumumba and the many students out there who protested against the establishment.
The
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights assures the right to protest, to contest and to strike; sadly however, it's not every place in the
world that follows such rules which makes the world a bad place; and on places where such right is exercised there's still a struggle to mantain some order
and coherence when it comes to protests. If one time the ideals of a French Revolution changed society to a more libertarian and free place to live these
days we have government insurrections and extremism that strike blows of hatred, violence and unrest. People must exercise the rights but a conscience must
follow along and I think the images presented here in this documentary shows exactly when the good fight and when the right to protest is best used, all causes easy to
identify and join. The struggle keeps on going in order to make this world a better place to live. 10/10.
