My SDI

We are delighted to partner with Invisible Women and CinemaAttic for a special season devoted to the extraordinary work of Helena Solberg, a trailblazing Brazilian filmmaker and rare feminist voice who emerged from the Cinema Novo movement in the 1960s. The retrospective will offer an insight into the pioneering feminist cinemas in/of Latin America through a handpicked selection of Solberg’s most influential documentaries screening at Glasgow Film Theatre (Sunday 16 April) and St Peter’s Church in Edinburgh (Saturday 29 April). An intimate conversation between award-winning filmmaker Mila Turajlić and Helena Solberg as well as a special screening is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 19th April at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.

Helena Solberg 

Born in São Paulo, Solberg began her career in the late 60s with two short films that would become  defining depictions of the era, before going on to produce a seminal body of work concerned with the interconnected social, political, and representational issues facing women and the Latin American diaspora. Her debut short, The Interview (1966), now considered the first Brazilian feminist film, and  second short fiction film Noon (1969) garnered Solberg international recognition, with invitations to film festivals that kick-started her wider career. Since moving to the United States in 1970, she has directed and produced many short and feature-length documentaries. Throughout the 1980s, she directed films broadcast nationally on the PBS network, and has continued to make work between  the United States and Brazil up until the present day. Her work has won numerous prizes and been  selected for festivals internationally including in Melbourne, Rio, Nyon, Havana, Chicago, and New York amongst many others. 

Bringing a rebellious perspective to the cinematic landscape during one of the most socially and  politically repressive moments of the Brazilian military dictatorship, Solberg’s vision is one of fierce  independence, feminist ideals, and a deep commitment to social justice — all themes that are more resonant now than ever before. The reinvigorated circulation of her work is bound to ignite and inspire audiences in Scotland and beyond. 

All screenings will be available to pre-book online on a sliding scale basis £2-£8, with a limited number of free tickets available by request. If you would like to book a free ticket in advance, or make a group booking of free tickets, please get in touch via [email protected].

Screenings programme & tickets

16th April @ Glasgow Film Theatre | 3pm >> TICKETS HERE

Introduction by Invisible Women

THE DOUBLE DAY  // A DUPLA JORNADA

1975, Argentina/Mexico/Bolivia/Venezuela, 54min

Filmed in factories in Mexico and Argentina, and in women's collectives working in mines in Bolivia and Venezuela, The Double Day examines the conditions of female labour in predominantly male-dominated industries in Latin America. 

SIMPLY JENNY // SIMPLESMENTE JENNY

1977, Bolivia, 32min

In Simply Jenny three young women – Marli, Patricia and Jenny – living in a reformatory for teenagers in Bolivia relate their stories of sex work, gender and class violence, while also sharing their dreams of social mobility, marriage and happiness.

19th April @ Scottish Storytelling Centre (Edinburgh) | 6pm >> TICKETS HERE

An in-depth illustrated conversation between filmmaker Mila Turajlić and Helena Solberg exploring feminism, radical politically-engaged filmmaking across different generations and continents. 

SCREENING HOME OF THE BRAVE // TERRA DOS BRAVOS | 8pm >> TICKETS HERE

1986, Brazil/US/Switzerland, 58min

Home of the Brave examines the impact of industrial development on native peoples in North and South America, the crisis of identity that this entails, and the national and international efforts to politically organize to protect Indian lives and land.

29th April @ St Peter's Church Hall (Edinburgh) | 8pm >> TICKETS HERE

Introduction by Invisible Women

CARMEN MIRANDA: BANANAS IS MY BUSINESS

1995, Brazil, 92 min

The 1995 documentary chronicles the life and career of actress Carmen Miranda, who found fame in Hollywood in the 1940s by incarnating the spirit of Latin American.

INTERVIEW // A ENTREVISTA

1966, Brazil 20 min

Crafted from interviews with young women, Solberg (re)constructs the conventional, idealised profile of Brazilian women – working through imposed ideas around marriage, sex, happiness, work, and social roles.

The Helena Solberg retrospective is supported by Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, and funded by Screen Scotland and National Lottery funding from the BFI. This season is also made possible with the support of Guimarães Rosa Institute, the  Embassy of Brazil in London, and the Consulate of Brazil in Edinburgh.