Past Film/Video | Contemporary Screen

Dry Ground Burning

(Joana Pimenta and Adirley Queirós, 2022)

A group of Brazilians ride mud-covered motorcycles down a muddy favela street, led by a woman and carry flags with her face and Portuguese text on them.

Set in the favelas of Brasília, this charged dystopian dispatch from contemporary Brazil offers a fusion of documentary and speculative fiction.

Dry Ground Burning follows Léa (Léa Alves da Silva), who was just released from prison, as she teams up with her half-sister Chitara (Joana Darc Furtado). Chitara is the leader of an all-female gang that siphons underground oil from the authoritarian, militarized government of Jair Bolsonaro to sell to an underground network of motorcyclists. As a declaration of radical political resistance, Chitara’s gang claims the streets for themselves on behalf of ex-cons and the oppressed. Dry Ground Burning mixes political documentary with narrative and genre elements. The film is fueled by a righteous fury and the captivating two lead actresses, creating an epic, hopeful vision of Brazil—and the world’s—possible future. (153 mins., DCP)

IMAGE CAPTION
Dry Ground Burning, courtesy of Grasshopper Films.

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"An astonishing work of survival and resilience…packs a pulpy punch, yet is also rooted in an urgent political reality."
Guardian (UK)

SUPPORT FOR FILM/VIDEO PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY
Rohauer Collection Foundation

WEXNER CENTER PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY 
Greater Columbus Arts Council 
The Wexner Family 
National Endowment for the Arts 
Ohio Arts Council 
L Brands Foundation 
The Columbus Foundation 
Nationwide Foundation 
Institute of Museum and Library Services 
Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease 

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY 
Mike and Paige Crane 
Axium Packaging 
CampusParc 
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams 
President Kristina M. Johnson and Mrs. Veronica Meinhard 
Nancy Kramer 
Larry and Donna James 
Lisa Barton 
Johanna DeStefano 
Jones Day 
Alex and Renée Shumate 

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Past Film/Video

Dry Ground Burning