Rita Moreira video documentary "Temporada de Caça" ("Hunting Season") is a gripping yet painfully brutal report that the mass media of the late
1980's failed to take notice while covering the exact same topics brought by this film: the late 1980's killing of homosexuals and transvestites in São Paulo and
Rio de Janeiro cities, either on the hands of homophobes, extermination groups, or even police officers. It comes in the context of a generalized homophobia and
paranoia against a community eliminated by the thousands during the AIDS epidemic and a social/political opening that allowed moral crusaders raise their
voice against everything they despised, and the LGBT community was a large target.
Moreira presents an educational and interesting intersection of facts and points of view: it features interviews with musicians, actors and artists of
the 1980's gay scene sharing their thoughts as to why such brutal murders weren't investigated and the media role in perpetuating those cases with little
attention; views from anonymous people as well (get ready for the shock); along with images from famous gay personalities throughout history; and clips
from queer cinema films - the infamous opening death scene of "Cruising" (1980) is used to present the similarity of a real case, the murder of an actor,
brother of theatre director Zé Celso Martinez', and a few similar cases that were happening at the time. Not sure if it was a case of omission, forgetfulness
or lack of media coverage back then - and the film presents many news headlines - but the Park Trianon serial killer isn't mentioned at all (he'd get
arrested in 1989, and the revelation was of him being a schizophrenic gay man who worked as a hustler).
While the TV and printed media reports were
shocking and alarming, they were all inclined to promote moralistic agendas rather than telling a story about human beings getting murdered simply
because they love and relate with each other in a different manner, and by not giving voice to a discriminated community one can only imagine how
difficult it was to be out in the open and being yourself without becoming a target from prejudicial people, neither getting any form of help from
strangers. The director proves those facts, but also shines a great light at the end of the tunnel by giving us the testimonies of allies and supporters
of the gay community, fighting against oppression.
But don't think this documentary will make things easier for a new generation of viewers who will be deeply appalled and angry (with good
reasons) each time the interviewer asks random people in the streets what they think about homosexuals. 1980's were no joke when it came to people
voicing their opinions, so here it's a case you'll have to brace yourself for impact because those men and women being interviewed were hateful loudmouths
that hated a
community with a passion and hated on different values without personally knowing any gay men and women. And just when you think it's all about folks celebrating the
murders, by the time it gets to the positive views of those defending gay people it didn't become much better, as we have the judgments and terms being
thrown - freaks or abominations, or the different life style/option rather than the better designed and factual "sexual orientation", but at least they
condemned the crimes.
Despite all of those critical moments, please don't stop from watching the film as you'll have a different perspective about certain
freedoms most people take it for granted; see a different time and how some battles were fought by creative minds and forces, the strength of the union
from the LGBT community, artists of all sorts and others while pressing authorities to investigate the crimes or repel idiotic law bills - like the one
enforced by mayor Jânio Quadros which banned homosexual teachers from teaching at a known ballet school. Brazilian society - and some other nations too -
came a long way to reach acceptance and inclusion towards diversity of all sorts. A film like this in needed, even on brighter times, so people can't forget about history,
and learn from it. It's tragic, upsetting, and a real downer, but it's an honest and poignant work. 9/10.
