Bandeiras Verdes: horizonte de expectativa, cinema e educação

Abstract

The present undergraduate thesis aims to analyze the representation of migratory processes among men residing in the “centers” of the Vale do Rio Carú region in the Amazonian region of Maranhão, during the 1970s and 1980s. These processes were recorded by filmmaker Murilo Santos over a period of ten years. The thesis also explores the reaction of these rural communities to the ongoing agrarian transformations and land conflicts that occurred in Maranhão during the same period. These communities faced subjugation and hardships during their stay, as they were affected by the advancement of agricultural projects all in the name of economic progress. Internal migrations took place, with squatters venturing into virgin forest regions, where they established their plantations and engaged in local trade as a result of their agricultural productions. The selected film for analysis is “Bandeiras Verdes” (1988), a short film that delves into the struggles of the countryside people, particularly the main interlocutors Domingos Bala and Dona Rosa, as they recount their stories on camera, thus creating small portraits of rural life in Maranhão. This film serves as a representation of the time and the local environment. The choice to employ an audiovisual source is based on its potential for extensive study and reflection. Cinema can serve as both a primary source and an object of analysis in historical research. Therefore, this thesis examines Murilo Santos' connection to the cinematographic movement in Maranhão and explores ways in which the film can be used as a didactic resource for teaching history in basic education. Additionally, it considers topics that can be explored through the documentary format.