Apparently the Brazilian magazine Manchete put together this list in 1998, which explains the omission of some good contemporary films and the rather bizarre placement of a few 90's films. Ganga Bruta tops the list, and I must admit I'm in appallingly bad shape with about 45 of these films. However for those who found the Mexican list helpful I imagine this would offer ample suggestions for exploring Brazilian cinema. 


1. Ganga Bruta (Rough Gangue) by Humberto Mauro (1933)

2. Vidas Secas (Barren Lives) by Nélson Pereira dos Santos (1963)

3. O Pagador de Promessas (The Promise Keeper) by Anselmo Duarte (1962)

4. Amei um Bicheiro (I Loved a Numbers Game Runner) by Jorge Ileli (1953)

5. Assalto ao Trem Pagador (The Pay-Train Robbery) by Roberto Farias (1962)

6. Central do Brasil (Central Station) by Walter Salles Jr. (1998)

7. Deus e o Diabo na Terra do Sol (God and the Devil on the Land of the Sun) by Gláuber Rocha (1963)

8. Todas as Mulheres do Mundo (All the Women in the World) by Domingos Oliveira (1966)

9. O Cangaceiro (The Bandit) by Lima Barreto (1953)

10. A Ostra e o Vento (The Oyster and the Wind) by Walter Lima Júnior (1997)

11. Limite (Limit) by Mário Peixoto (1931)

12. Rio 40 Graus (Rio 104 degrees F) by Nélson Pereira dos Santos (1955)

13. Os Cafajestes (The Scoundrels) by Ruy Guerra (1962)

14. A Hora e a Vez de Augusto Matraga (The Hour and the Turn of Augusto Matraga) by Roberto Santos (1966)

15. O Bandido da Luz Vermelha (The Red Light Bandit) by Rogério Sganzerla (1962)

16. Macunaíma (Macunaíma) by Joaquim Pedro de Andrade (1969)

17. Pixote, a Lei do Mais Fraco (Pixote, the Law of the Weakest) by Hector Babenco (1980)

18. Noite Vazia (Empty Night) by Walter Hugo Khouri (1964)

19. São Paulo S. A. (São Paulo Inc.) by Luiz Sérgio Person (1966)

20. A Intrusa (The IntruderLady) by Carlos Hugo Christensen (1980)

21. O Baile Perfumado (The Fragrant Ball) by Paulo Caldas and L. Ferreira (1997)

22. Favela dos Meus Amores (Shantytown of My Loves) by Humberto Mauro (1936)

23. Simão o Caolho (Simão the Cross-Eyed) by Alberto Cavalcanti (1952)

24. Os Fuzis (The Rifles) by Ruy Guerra (1963)

25. Menino de Engenho (Sugar Mill Boy) by Walter Lima Jr. (1965)

26. Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos (Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands by Bruno Barreto (1976)

27. Inocência (Innocence) by Walter Lima Júnior (1982)

28. Memórias do Cárcere (Memories of Jail) by Nélson Pereira dos Santos (1984)

29. Moleque Tião (Street Kid Tião) by José Carlos Burle (1942)

30. O Padre e a Moça ( The Priest and the Maiden) by Joaquim Pedro de Andrade (1965)

31. Viver de Morrer (To Live From Dying) by Jorge Ileli (1970)

32. Chuvas de Verão (Summer Rains) by Carlos Diegues (1996)

33. Lira do Delírio (Delirium Lyre) by Walter Lima Júnior (1977)

34. Bye Bye Brasil (Bye Bye, Brazil) by Carlos Diegues (1977)

35. Gaijin (Foreigner) by Tizuka Yamasaki (1980)

36. Eles Não Usam Black Tie (They Don't Wear Black Tie) by Leon Hirszman (1981)

37. A Marvada Carne (Mean Flesh) by André Klotzel (1985)

38. A Hora da Estrela (The Hour of the Star) by Suzana Amaral (1985)

39. Fragmentos da Vida (Life's Fragments) by José Medina (1929)

40. Tesouro Perdido (Lost Treasure) by Humberto Mauro (1926)

41. Barro Humano (Human Clay) by Adhemar Gonzaga (1928)

42. Alô Alô Carnaval (Hi, Hi, Carnaval) by Adhemar Gonzaga (1936)

43. Carnaval no Fogo (Carnaval in the Fire) by Watson Macedo (1950)

44. Tico-Tico no Fubá (Tico-Tico Bird in the Corn Flour) by Adolfo Celi (1951)

45. O Canto da Saudade (The Longing Corner) by Humberto Mauro (1952)

46. Agulha no Palheiro (Needle in the Haystack) by Alex Vianny (1953)

47. Absolutamente Certo! (Absolutely Right) by Anselmo Duarte (1957)

48. Mulheres e Milhões (Women and Millions) by Jorge Ileli (1961)

49. O Grande Momento (The Great Moment) by Roberto Santos (1958)

50. Carlota Joaquina, a Princesa do Brasil (Carlota Joaquina, the Princess of Brazil) by Carla Camurati (1996)