Paper short abstract:

The unusual conditions under which the film Twenty Years Later began its production and the political aspects of its interruption are the focus of this paper. I propose an affective map generated through political oppression, evidencing the constant fights in favor of better labor conditions.

Paper long abstract:

Twenty Years Later (1984) is one of the most famous documentaries directed by the Brazilian Eduardo Coutinho. It is considered by many critics to be Coutinho’s masterpiece, beyond distinguishing this career as a documentarist, the film was also recognized with awards in several festivals around the globe.

This paper examines the unusual conditions under which the film first began its production and the political aspects of its interruption. It takes into consideration the spaces and displacements over the twenty years of interruption. Every conversation in the film seems to take the story to a different place. This method of filming and interviewing people produces what I’ll call an affective map generated in and through political oppression. By examining the political context in which the film’s production was initially suspended and the subsequent displacement of its cast and crew, this paper aims to demonstrate the film’s ongoing relevance to the current political situation in Brazil.

The story takes place in three different cities, but these places appear interchangeable. The spectators are guided into a single space based on the affect Elizabeth Teixeira, the protagonist, and the film kept with space. Moreover, the affect is what locates us, rather than the location itself. We understand that the relationship Elizabeth and other peasants have with the land is based on labor. By mapping their story, the director reveals the permanent class condition of Elizabeth and her family. We, as spectators, witness the constant fights in favor of better conditions for the peasants.