Overview
A revolutionary leader battles against a brutal regime in a fight for justice and family.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- urgent
- somber
- confrontational
- political cinema night
- historical drama viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film’s urgency, performances, and political force while noting its highly partisan fictionalization of Marighella’s life.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film explicitly adapts Carlos Marighella’s life through invented situations and scenes that support its martyr-centered interpretation.
Marighella organizes revolutionary opposition while the military regime uses torture, censorship, and intimidation against dissenters.
The casting of black actor Seu Jorge as the historically mixed-race Marighella generated debate about race and social representation in Brazil.
The film humanizes Marighella while presenting him as a liberal-values martyr and revolutionary icon.
Films like Marighella, and why
The Battle of Algiers
political resistance drama depicting armed opposition to authoritarian state violence
The Motorcycle Diaries
historical political drama about revolutionary commitment, repression, and ideological conflict
Missing
tense historical drama centered on state torture, censorship, and resistance networks
Che
biographical political thriller portraying a radical figure against institutional repression
Movie Details
- Director
- Wagner Moura
- Release Date
- 2021-01-29
- Runtime
- 155 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (138)
Cast
- Seu Jorge
- Bruno Gagliasso
- Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos
- Humberto Carrão
- Jorge Paz
- Bella Camero
- Henrique Vieira
- Ana Paula Bouzas
- Gui Ferraz
- Rafael Lozano
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Marighella about?
- A politically charged Brazilian historical drama follows Carlos Marighella as he wages clandestine resistance against a brutal military dictatorship while trying to remain connected to his son.
- What is Marighella like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Marighella as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Marighella violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Marighella as graphic.
- What did critics think of Marighella?
- Critics broadly praised the film’s urgency, performances, and political force while noting its highly partisan fictionalization of Marighella’s life.
- Which films are like Marighella?
- Films with a similar feel include The Battle of Algiers, The Motorcycle Diaries, Missing, and Che.
- How long is Marighella?
- Marighella runs 155 minutes.
- Where can I watch Marighella?
- In United States, Marighella streams on Amazon Prime Video, Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
