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Antonio Pitanga’s Malês Premieres, Reimagining the 1835 Malês Revolt

A decades-in-the-making drama confronts Brazil’s erasure of a major Black Muslim rebellion.

Overview

  • The film opens in Brazilian cinemas on October 2, 2025, fulfilling a directorial project Pitanga pursued for nearly three decades.
  • Written by Manuela Dias, the drama revisits the 1835 uprising in Salvador led by enslaved and freed Black Muslims.
  • Pitanga appears on screen as Pacífico Licutan, with his children Camila Pitanga and Rocco Pitanga in key roles.
  • Historian João José Reis served as general consultant, and the score is composed by Antonio Pinto and Barulhista.
  • Early reviews praise the performances and music while noting uneven elements in the film.