A Verdade Do Gato

Country & People/Environment, Belgium 2006

In the Brazilian village of Carmo Do Rio Verde, the entire community revolves around the cultivation of sugar cane. A powerful corporation controls the production of alcohol in the area, exerting its influence by owning or leasing all the fields and employing a workforce of 2,000 individuals. Among them are 1,200 seasonal workers who are recruited through a figure known as "El Gato," or "the Cat." With enticing promises of respectable wages and decent housing, El Gato manages to secure 4% of each worker's salary for himself. As the labor commences, so does the exploitation. Amidst the backdrop of perspiration and desolation, this documentary takes a poetic approach to explore the profound human cost of wealth and the "clean" fuel industry.
50 min
HD
Starting at 10
Audio language:
Portuguese
Subtitles:
FrenchGerman

Awards

2007 Sognes d'une Nuit DV Best Foreign Documentary Award
2007 Docupolis Festival International Documental de Barcelona Best first documentary award

More information

Director:

Jeremy Hamers

Sound Design:

Origan Cannella

Producer:

Jeremy Hamers

Original title:

A verdade do Gato

Original language:

Portuguese

Format:

16:9 HD, Color

Age rating:

Starting at 10

Audio language:

Portuguese

Subtitles:

FrenchGerman