Deep Dive: The Cambridge Squatter (2017)
Film Lens
The Cambridge Squatter is a 2016 Brazilian film directed by Eliane Caffé that presents a fictionalized account of the occupation of the Cambridge Hotel in São Paulo. The film features actual squatters living in the hotel alongside established Brazilian actors, including José Dumont and Suely Franco. The narrative focuses on low-paid workers and refugees from various countries, including the Congo, Haiti, Syria, and Palestine, as they navigate their daily lives within the building.
The film captures the interactions among squatters as they cook, communicate with family, and attend meetings, all while facing the threat of eviction. A significant moment occurs when housing activist Carmen Silva encourages the squatters to resist eviction by throwing coconuts at the police, illustrating the community's solidarity and determination in their struggle for housing.
Why Watch
- •Meet squatters from Congo, Haiti, and Syria.
- •See José Dumont as Apolo in a film within the film.
- •Find out how squatters resist eviction with coconuts.
Did You Know
•The Cambridge Hotel is a 15-storey building in São Paulo.
•Carmen Silva, who plays a housing activist, is a real-life campaigner.
•The film won three awards at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival.
Perfect For
Social justice advocatesFans of Brazilian cinemaDocumentary enthusiasts