The movie “Araguaia, presente!” was launched and also debated among the youth, activists and the intellectuality in the Institute of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in June 7th. The movie is about the Araguaia guerrilla that took place in the 70s in the north of Brazil, led by the Communist Party of Brazil (PcdoB) against the military regime and an attempt to unleash the People’s War in the country.
André Queiroz and Arthur Moura, the directors of the movie were together with Danilo Carneiro, a survivor and combatant of the guerrilla, also the general director of the A Nova Democracia newspaper (AND) and a representative from the National commission of the Poor Peasant’s League (LCP) were all part of the debate table in the event.
The movie was produced by the 202 Filmes company and shows the monstrosity of the fascist military regime and the advances and setbacks of the Araguaia guerrilla. In the event around 100 people attended to watch the movie.
Danilo Carneiro gave his important testimony about the conditions of the guerrilla struggle and the need for a Great Revolution. “there is no way, under imperialism, for a peripheral country to become sovereign without passing through a revolution” and also told about the necessity of a truly communist Party.
When talking about the tortures under the regime, the representative from LCP called the people to remember the late Alípio de Freitas, Chairman-in-honor of the LCP, in his book Resist is a need![free translation] (Resistir é preciso!) where he endures all tortures and then morally defeats the enemy and do not hand over any of his comrades.
André Queiroz exposed the whole conception of the movie and the general idea that guided its construction. “there are many movies that shows Araguaia under different perspectives, so we decided that it was important to remember the reason for that self-critic process inside the PCdoB, led by Pedro Pomar, which was aborted after the Lapa Massacre which led the party to th current situation it is”.
One activist from the Revolutionary Popular Student’s Movement (MEPR) also told that all the struggle from Araguai is embodied today by a “youth who dares defy the class enemy” and carry the revolution forward. “we combat this idea that the armed struggle is only against dictatorships. No, the armed struggle is the only path to march towards communism” she said.
This event is one of the first and opens a series of other launching events throughout the country.
Trailer of the movie:
