The History of Brazilian Films
At the beginning of the Brazilian Republic (1889), Brazil was in a classic dependence situation: great exporter ofagricultural products and at the same time, greatly dependent on importation of manufactured goods. Goods were not the only thing being imported from abroad. Brazil was also importing a European way of life and culture.
During the period that Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil, it was a target of a new urbanization and modernization through government policy. The policy was championed by the optimism of the new republic and its mains goal was a “civilized” capital. The atmosphere of urbanization and importation of foreign culture was favorable for the introduction of the cinema in Brazil in 1886, with the first film exhibition in Rio de Janeiro.