Humberto Mauro

Humberto Mauro was a pioneer of Brazilian cinema, who started his career in the provinces in 1926 and moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1930. He directed several features that were praised for their uniquely Brazilian style, such as Ganga Bruta, as well as making over 230 shorts for the National Institute of Educational Cinema. He explored various genres and themes, from crime dramas and musicals to historical epics and regional stories. He was influenced by American filmmakers like D.W. Griffith and King Vidor, but also developed his own personal vision and technique. He is often considered the greatest director of early Brazilian cinema and one of the most important figures in the history of Latin American cinema. He received many awards and honors, such as the Jornal do Brasil film of the year award in 1930, the Venice Film Festival jury membership in 1938, and the retrospective at the 25th Nantes Three Continents Festival in 2003². He was also the granduncle of actress Cláudia Mauro¹. He died in 1983 in his hometown of Volta Grande, where he was buried¹.