Intermissions

João Moreira Salles's 2004 Brazilian documentary follows Lula through the 2002 election campaign. The crew was given full access, and the camera stays on the plane, in hotel rooms and in the waiting time before rallies. The choice is not to show the stage. Speeches and crowds barely enter the frame; the narrative records the time in between, the preparation and the arguments with advisers. Lula talks on camera about the chances of winning and losing, and says he will lose his freedom if he becomes president. The documentary adds no commentary and ends without showing the result. Who it's for: those who like political documentary and observational cinema. Who it's not for: viewers unfamiliar with the political background; the film explains nothing.