Sirât Premieres at CineSesc Amidst a Week of Political Cinema

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CineSesc presents a film series from February 26 to March 4 exploring themes of authoritarianism, truth, and identity through a program of Oscar-nominated films and premieres. CineSesc also directs the German film festival, which will launch during this period. Among the highlights is Oliver Laxe’s Sirat, winner of the Cannes Jury Prize. The film follows a father and son searching for their missing daughter amidst the pulsing rhythms of electronic music festivals in Morocco’s southern mountains, pushing the boundaries of personal experience. Sirat will be screened on February 26 at 6 PM, and again on the 27th, 28th, March 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th at 8:30 PM. Raoul Peck’s documentary, Orwell: 225, examines George Orwell’s life and work to understand contemporary issues such as digital surveillance and the manipulation of truth. The premieres include Johanna Moder’s Mothers Baby, about a successful teacher, Julia, who begins to doubt her baby’s paternity after the child is taken from her arms. Another premiere, Oliver Hermanus’s The Story of Sound, follows two young people recording folk songs from World War I veterans in Maine.

Leticia Simoes’s unreleased Brazilian film, A Vida Secreta dos Meus Tres Homens, blends fable and history in an attempt to understand the formation of modern Brazil. On March 3 at 7:30 PM, CineSesc will host the opening of the German film festival it directs with a free screening of Mascha Schilinski’s Elas Dirigem (O Som da Queda). The film depicts four women on a German farm confronting intergenerational secrets and trauma spanning decades. Cineclubinho will present storytelling, a book launch, and French animation. On March 1 at 2 PM, Cineclube will host the launch of Karina Almeida’s book, A Tina’s Routine, followed by a storytelling session led by Cristiano Gouveia and a showing of the animated film Little Amelie, about a Belgian girl born in Japan exploring her world. Admission is free for children up to 12 years old on Sunday, and popcorn is available for R2.00.

Oliver Hermanus also directed Meet Me in 1917, a 128-minute co-production between the UK, US, Sweden, and Italy (rated 14), scheduled for release in 2025. Starring Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor, and Chris Cooper, the film tells the story of Lionel E. David, who meet at the Boston Conservatory and bond over folk music. Years later, they reunite to record the songs of WWI veterans across Maine. Screenings are scheduled for February 26 to March 4 at 3 PM, with additional showtimes up to Saturday, February 28, at 8 PM. The Secret Lives of My Three Men is described by CineSesc as a poetic documentary that uses the stories of three ghosts to explore Brazil’s historical roots: Fernando, a family man and collaborator during the military dictatorship; Arnaud, an adolescent involved with vigilantes; and Sebastiao, a Black gay photographer who lost his love. The film questions Brazil’s identity in light of its history and heritage of violence, using poetry to envision other realities. A Tina’s Routine, written by Karina Almeida and illustrated by Monge Lua, is inspired by the writer’s family life. The book uses playful rhymes to find the magic in everyday moments.

CineSesc is located at Rua Augusta, 2075, in Sao Paulo. The central ticketing office is open daily from 1:15 PM to 9:30 PM. Tickets can be purchased online at sescsp.org.br/cinesesc. Accessible session tickets are free and can be picked up at the CineSesc box office one hour in advance. Tickets for the week of February 19-25 are R10.00 (full), R5.00 (half), and R3.00 (Sesc credential). Cineclubinho is free for children under 12. CineSesc opened on September 21, 1979, and focuses on showing quality films often overlooked by commercial circuits. In addition to curating exhibitions and festivals, it hosts major Paulista film events, including the International Show of Cinema of Sao Paulo and the Mix Brazil Festival.

Celebrating 80 Years of SESC’s Culture and Education – CineSesc Presents Political Cinema Week (Feb 26-March 4)

The CineSesc program is supported by SESC (Social Service of Commerce), which will celebrate 80 years of service in 2026. With over 40 locations operating across Sao Paulo state, SESC aims to improve the well-being and quality of life for workers in commerce, tourism, and related fields. SESC is a private organization supported by local businesses, focusing on education and culture through programs in sports, health, arts, and food security for all ages. It serves approximately 30 million people in Sao Paulo state each year and includes representatives from around 50 organizations across various fields. Additional details can be found at Sescsp.org.br. In summary, CineSesc, with the support of SESC, presents a week of political cinema from February 26 to March 4 featuring Sirat, Orwell: 225, Mothers Baby, and the launch of German films with Elas Dirigem.

In Case You Missed It

From online outrage to mistaken identity, our last post took a deep dive into the tangled web of social media storms. And boy, do we have another one for you! Spanish director Oliver Laxe recently sparked a fiery debate when he critiqued Brazil’s Academy Awards presence, leading Brazilian netizens to target an innocent photographer with a similar name in a wild mix-up. Sophie Laurent’s fascinating account, “Brazilians Wrongly Attack Individual After Outrage Over Spanish Director’s Comments on ‘The Secret Agent'” (2026-01-25), reveals all the twists and turns of this story. But that’s not all – in the spirit of our exploration into global cinema trends, Jonathan Dubinski’s latest analysis, “If Brazilians submitted a shoe to the Oscars, everyone would vote for it,” published on the same day, offers an insightful take on Laxe’s controversial comments and Brazil’s impressive five historic nominations. Dive right in here Brazilians Wrongly Attack Individual After Outrage Over Spanish Director’s Comments on ‘The Secret Agent’ and here If Brazilians submitted a shoe to the Oscars, everyone would vote for it,” says Director of Sirāt to join the conversation on global cinema trends and online outrage.