Carta de Chamada
Director Cristina Ferreira Gomes
Countries Portugal
Duration 65 min
Synopsis
On 23rd December 1952, Giovanna C. arrived at the huge port of Santos, in Brazil. It was one of the many ships that crossed the Atlantic allowing European emigrants to disembark in South American countries. For many Portuguese people, it was the end of a journey of no return. In their luggage they all carried a letter of invitation (carta de chamada), an official document that was essential in order for them to be able to stay in Brazil as emigrants. And some also disembarked with a photograph taken on board. Fernanda would keep this photo forever. The image shows her beside the other men and women, around a lifesaving float. It is the portrait of a generation, of a piece of Portugal that crossed the Atlantic in search of a golden life in a country that speaks the same language. More than 50 years later, what has happened to these men and women who, by chance, chose the same day to travel and were brought together for an instant in black and white?
On 23rd December 1952, Giovanna C. arrived at the huge port of Santos, in Brazil. It was one of the many ships that crossed the Atlantic allowing European emigrants to disembark in South American countries. For many Portuguese people, it was the end of a journey of no return. In their luggage they all carried a letter of invitation (carta de chamada), an official document that was essential in order for them to be able to stay in Brazil as emigrants. And some also disembarked with a photograph taken on board. Fernanda would keep this photo forever. The image shows her beside the other men and women, around a lifesaving float. It is the portrait of a generation, of a piece of Portugal that crossed the Atlantic in search of a golden life in a country that speaks the same language. More than 50 years later, what has happened to these men and women who, by chance, chose the same day to travel and were brought together for an instant in black and white?