Pictures of Ghosts

Downtown Recife’s classic movie palaces from the 20th century are mostly gone. That city area is now an archaeological site of sorts that reveals aspects of life in society which have been lost. And that’s just part of the story.

Brazil’s official selection for the 2024 Academy Awards, Pictures of Ghosts, from acclaimed director Kleber Mendonça Filho is a multidimensional journey through time, sound, architecture and filmmaking, set in the urban landscape of Recife, Brazilian coastal capital of Pernambuco. The film examines this historical and human territory through the great movie theatres that served as spaces of conviviality during the 20th century. Having hosted dreams and progress, these places have also embodied a major transformation on social practices. Combining archive documentary, mystery, film clips and personal memories, Pictures of Ghosts is a map of a city through the lens of cinema.

Pictures of Ghosts will be presented in conjunction with The Secret Agent, the latest feature film from Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, which is nominated for the 2026 Academy Award® for Best Picture.

Free admission! Sponsored by the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program at the Einaudi Center for International Studies.

The screening is presenting in conjunction with the course "Cinematic Cities", taught by Professors Cecelia Lawless (Romance Studies) and Patricia Keller (Comparative Literature).

Part of "Doc Spots" and our "Campus Collaborations" series. In Portuguese with English subtitles. Courtesy of Grasshopper Film.