Personal Info
Birth date
1940-05-19 (85 Years)
Day of death
2025-02-14
Gender
Male
Known for
Directing
Place of birth
Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
Also known as
Carlos Diegues
Carlos Diegues
Biography
Carlos José Fontes Diegues OMC, known as Cacá Diegues (Maceió, May 19, 1940 – Rio de Janeiro, February 14, 2025), was a Brazilian filmmaker. He was one of the founders of Cinema Novo.
Filmography
Bacurau
7.674
Overview:
Bacurau, a small town in the Brazilian sertão, mourns the loss of its matriarch, Carmelita, who lived to be 94. Days later, its inhabitants notice that their community has vanished from most maps.Bye Bye Brazil
6.9
Overview:
The Caravana Rolidei rolls into town with the Gypsy Lord at the mike: he does magic tricks, the erotic Salomé dances, and the mute Swallow performs feats of strength. A young accordion player is completely enamored of Salomé, and he begs to come along. The Gypsy Lord shrugs, and the accordionist and his pregnant wife, Dasdô, join the troupe.Elis
7.198
Overview:
The film tells the story of the energetic and pulsating singer Elis Regina since her arrival in Rio de Janeiro at age 19 until her tragic and early death. Despite all the difficulties, success comes fulminant and the life of Elis Regina gained national and international recognition, becoming undoubtedly considered today the greatest Brazilian singer of all time.Aquarius
7.472
Overview:
Clara, a vibrant former music critic and widow with flowing tresses is the only remaining apartment owner in a beautiful older building targeted for demolition by ruthless luxury high-rise developers. Clara proves to be a force to be reckoned with as she thwarts the builders plans to kick her out of the apartment.Turn It Up, It's Rock 'n' Roll
7.3
Overview:
The film tells the story of Luiz Antônio, a clumsy radio host, who unexpectedly finds himself in charge of a bankrupt radio station. Relying only on his passion for rock'n'roll and a crazy team, he creates one of the most emblematic radio stations in the history of Brazilian rock, Fluminense FM. Among guitar solos and radio signal interferences, we follow the adventures misadventures of Luiz.Meu Passado Me Condena 2: O Filme
6.287
Overview:
The life of Fabio and Miá falls into the rut when differences, which are not few, need to be faced. After Fábio forget the third wedding anniversary, Miá decides to ask for a time in the relationship. When Fábio's grandfather, who lives in Portugal, tells him that he was a widower, he sees on this trip to the funeral an opportunity to save his marriage.Fala Sério, Mãe!
7.29
Overview:
Ângela Cristina, mother of teenager Maria de Lourdes, has to deal with the difficulties and delights of guiding her daughter during one of the most complicated stages of life.Operações Especiais
6.6
Overview:
In a crime-plagued area of Rio de Janeiro, a team of honest cops, including a determined rookie, fights corruption and mistrust on all sides.Entranced Earth
7.3
Overview:
Eldorado, a fictitious country in America, is sparkling with the internal struggle for political power. In the eye of this social convulsion, the jaded journalist Paulo Martins opposes two equally corrupt political candidates: a pseudopopulist and a conservative. In this context, Paulo is torn between the madness of the elite and the blind submission of the masses. But, in this complex tropical reality, nothing really is what it seems to be.God Is Still Brazilian
NYR
Overview:
God needs to return to Earth when celestial beings rebel against humanity and decide to launch another meteor to exterminate life on the planet.Quilombo
6.9
Overview:
Quilombo dos Palmares was a real-life democratic society, created in Brazil in the 17th century. This incredibly elaborate (and surprisingly little-known) film traces the origins of Quilombo, which began as a community of freed slaves. The colony becomes a safe harbor for other outcasts of the world, including Indians and Jews. Ganga Zumba (Toni Tornado) becomes president of Quilombo, the first freely elected leader in the Western Hemisphere. Naturally, the ruling Portuguese want to subjugate Zumba and his followers, but the Quilombians are ready for their would-be oppressors. The end of this Brave New World is not pleasant, but the followers of Zumba and his ideals take to the hills, where they honor his memory to this day. Writer/director Carlos Diegues takes every available opportunity to compare the rise and fall of Quilombo with the state of affairs in modern-day Brazil.God Is Brazilian
6.2
Overview:
God decides to take a vacation, but first He has to find a saint who can rule the universe while He's away. So He goes to the Northeast of Brazil, where He believes there's a very good man for the job. As soon as He comes down to Earth, a young man comes along to help on His quest.Pitanga
5.6
Overview:
This documentary investigates the aesthetic, political and existential trajectory of emblematic Black Brazilian actor Antônio Pitanga. His career spans over five decades, and he has worked with iconic Brazilian filmmakers Glauber Rocha, Cacá Diegues and Walter Lima Jr. He was a prominent figurehead and outspoken activist during the Brazilian dictatorship, a period of unrest in Brazilian cinema. "Pitanga" deep dives into the world of Antônio and the history of Brazil. The documentary was directed by his daughter Camila Pitanga, one of widely recognised faces in Brazilian television and cinema right now. The film is also a poem, and a tender ode to fatherhood.Xica
6.813
Overview:
The romanced story of Xica da Silva, a slave that used her "feminine atributes" in order to get power.Orfeu
5.4
Overview:
Orfeu is a popular composer from a samba school. He lives in the favela and falls madly in love when he meets Euridice, a newcomer to the neighborhood. But the local drug boss Lucinho stands between them and will drastically change both their lives.Insensate
6.7
Overview:
A woman tries to help her twin sister, with whom she has a strong connection, recover from a trauma. But weird things surround their lives.Head Over Heels 3
7.1
Overview:
Alice Segretto is more agitated than ever. The success of her chain of stores Sexy Delícia takes the businesswoman on a tour around the world. Working endlessly, Alice realizes that she has not been able to keep up with her family, which has also grown. Conflict sets in: how to reconcile this insane life with her family? Impetuously, Alice makes a curious decision, deciding to retire and hand over the business to her mother. But when a competitor comes up with a plan to steal the scene, Alice's life is once again flipped legs in the air.Cinema Novo
6.7
Overview:
A deep investigation, in the way of a poetic essay, on one of the main Latin American movements in cinema, analyzed via the thoughts of its main authors, who invented, in the early 1960s, a new way of making movies in Brazil, with a political attitude, always near to people's problems, that combined art and revolution.Getulio
6.706
Overview:
The movie depicts the political crisis that led to the suicide of president Getúlio Vargas, in the 19 days that preceded August 24, 1954. The crisis began with the attempted assassination of journalist and politician Carlos Lacerda in August 5, 1954, at rua Toneleros, Rio de Janeiro, in which Major Vaz was assassinated instead. Investigations pointed to Gregório Fortunato, chief of Vargas' personal guard, as the orderer of the frustrated assassination. This incident was one of the most importants in the history of Brazil.White House
7.333
Overview:
Dé, Adrianim and Martins are three black teenagers from Chatuba, Rio de Janeiro. When Dé receives the news that Almerinda, his grandmother, is in the terminal phase of Alzheimer's disease, he decides to enjoy the last days of her life together with his two best friends.Ganga Zumba
6.2
Overview:
The life of a runaway slave who founded the Quilombo dos Palmares, an outlaw community of Brazilian slaves.O Amor Dá Trabalho
6.2
Overview:
The selfish Ancelmo dies and ends up trapped in limbo. To secure his place in heaven, he must practice a good deed and play cupid, as he is tasked with uniting a man and a woman with widely differing personalities.Subway to the Stars
5.9
Overview:
In this highly stylized Brazilian drama a sax player fondly remembers one wonderful night spent with his life's love and decides to find her again. He embarks upon a quest through the wild streets of Rio to find her. Along the way he meets an assortment of odd urban underworld characters.Party Crashers 2
6.259
Overview:
The quartet of coup plotters is back, but before they need to resolve some minor internal disagreements, since Marco has struck a blow at his best friend, Beto, who, desolate, stops at a psychiatric clinic. It is up to Laura and Nelson to help him out of the institution.5x Favela, Now by Ourselves
5.2
Overview:
The project '5 x slum, now by ourselves' gathered over 80 young people from Rio's favelas (slums), selected through workshops, script and filmmaking techniques to create a feature film consisting of five stories that reflect different facets of the daily lives of residents of these communities - with the promise of escape stereotypical representations.Burning Night
4.7
Overview:
Down on his luck and recently divorced, Paulo has begun driving a cab around Rio, hoping he’ll make enough to send his ex money to support their ten-year-old son. He mostly works nights, so in addition to his encounters with a colourful variety of customers, colleagues, cops and others, he must cope with loneliness, fatigue and new faces in his life.Acting
20251961 as Unknown
20251961 (3 Episodes) as Unknown
2023Roberto Farias - Memórias de um Cineasta as Self
2022Quando a Coisa Vira Outra as Self (archive footage)
2021The Good Cinema as Self
2020Torquato, Imagem da Incompletude as Self
2020Candango: Memoirs from a Festival as Self
2020Arroz, Feijão e Cinema as Self
2019Ferreira Gullar: Arqueologia do Poeta as Self
2019Neville D'Almeida: Chronicler of Beauty and Chaos as Self
2019Memórias do Grupo Opinião as Self
2017Asdrúbal Trouxe o Trombone as Unknown
2017Brazilian Cinema in the 20th Century as Self
2016Pitanga as Self
2016Cinema Novo as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
2015Cordilheiras no Mar: A Fúria do Fogo Bárbaro as Self
2015Tudo Por Amor ao Cinema as Self
2013Dossiê Jango as Self
2013Giovanni Improtta as Vizinho
2011Glauber Rocha em Defesa do Cinema Brasileiro as Self (archive footage)
2011Consideração do Poema as Unknown
2009Em Quadro: A História de 4 Negros nas Telas as Self
2006Depois do Transe as Self
2006Referências as Self
2005Looking for Black Orpheus as Self
2005Coisa Mais Linda - Histórias e Casos da Bossa Nova as Self
2003Glauber Rocha - The Movie, Brazil's Labyrinth as Self / Interviewee
2002At the Edge of the Earth as Self
20011968 - Without Losing Tenderness as Self
1998For All - O Trampolim da Vitória as Unknown
1997Dib as Self
1997Nelson Sargento as Self
1994Rio's Love Song as Unknown
1991Que Viva Glauber! as Unknown
1989Alex Viany - Um Documentário em Vídeo as Self
1984Making of - Quilombo as Self
1980Cinématon IX as N°83
1980Fênix as Self
1978Summer Showers as Homem lendo jornal
1975Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1 Episode) as Self
1974Spécial cinéma (1 Episode) as Self
1972The Suns of Easter Island as Unknown
1967Improvised and Purposeful: Cinema Novo as Self
Directing
TBACine Teatro Iris ... Director
2025God Is Still Brazilian ... Director
2018The Great Mystical Circus ... Director
2013River of Faith - An Encounter with Pope Francis ... Director
2013VINTE - RioFilme, 20 anos de cinema brasileiro ... Director
2006The Greatest Love of All ... Director
2006Nenhum Motivo Explica a Guerra ... Director
2003God Is Brazilian ... Director
1999Orfeu ... Director
1996Tieta of Agreste ... Director
1994Rio's Love Song ... Director
1989Better Days Ahead ... Director
1987Subway to the Stars ... Director
1984Quilombo ... Director
1980Bye Bye Brazil ... Director
1978Summer Showers ... Director
1976Xica ... Director
1973Joanna Francesa ... Director
1972When Carnaval Comes ... Director
1970The Heirs ... Director
1970Un Séjour ... Director
1967Oito Universitários ... Director
1966The Big City ... Director
1963Ganga Zumba ... Director
1962Five Times Favela ... Director
Production
2025White House ... Associate Producer
2024Malês ... Associate Producer
2024Turn It Up, It's Rock 'n' Roll ... Producer
2022Suspension Points ... Associate Producer
2022Uma Pitada de Sorte ... Associate Producer
202245 do Segundo Tempo ... Associate Producer
2022Our Children ... Associate Producer
2021Juntos e Enrolados ... Associate Producer
2021Insensate ... Associate Producer
2021Dr. Gama ... Producer
2020Verlust ... Associate Producer
2020De Perto Ela Não é Normal ... Associate Producer
2020Não Vamos Pagar Nada ... Associate Producer
2020Burning Night ... Associate Producer
2020Three Summers ... Associate Producer
2019Os Parças 2 ... Associate Producer
2019Vai que Cola 2: O Começo ... Associate Producer
2019Bacurau ... Associate Producer
2019O Amor Dá Trabalho ... Associate Producer
2019Head Over Heels 3 ... Associate Producer
2018Running After ... Associate Producer
2017Fala Sério, Mãe! ... Associate Producer
2017Don't Swallow My Heart, Alligator Girl ... Associate Producer
2017João, o Maestro ... Associate Producer
2017The Movie of My Life ... Associate Producer
2017Party Crashers 2 ... Associate Producer
2017Os Saltimbancos Trapalhões: Rumo a Hollywood ... Associate Producer
2016Elis ... Associate Producer
2016O Shaolin do Sertão ... Associate Producer
2016A Boyfriend for My Wife ... Associate Producer
2016Aquarius ... Associate Producer
2016Um Suburbano Sortudo ... Associate Producer
2015Till Luck Do Us: Part 3 ... Associate Producer
2015Operações Especiais ... Associate Producer
2015Drop Dead Gorgeous ... Associate Producer
2015Little Book of Love 2 ... Associate Producer
2015Meu Passado Me Condena 2: O Filme ... Associate Producer
2015Qualquer Gato Vira-Lata 2 ... Associate Producer
2015Loucas pra Casar ... Associate Producer
2014A Noite da Virada ... Associate Producer
2014Getulio ... Associate Producer
2013Giovanni Improtta ... Producer
2013VINTE - RioFilme, 20 anos de cinema brasileiro ... Producer
20105x Favela, Now by Ourselves ... Producer
2010Bróder ... Associate Producer
2001Bufo & Spallanzani ... Associate Producer
1996Tieta of Agreste ... Co-Producer
1989Better Days Ahead ... Producer
1984Quilombo ... Producer
1978Ponto das Ervas ... Executive Producer
1972When Carnaval Comes ... Producer
1970The Heirs ... Producer
1968Capitu ... Producer
1967Entranced Earth ... Associate Producer
1966The Big City ... Producer
1963Ganga Zumba ... Producer
Writing
2018The Great Mystical Circus ... Screenplay
2006The Greatest Love of All ... Screenplay
2003God Is Brazilian ... Screenplay
1999Orfeu ... Writer
1996Tieta of Agreste ... Screenplay
1994Rio's Love Song ... Writer
1989Better Days Ahead ... Writer
1988Luzia Homem ... Screenplay
1987Subway to the Stars ... Writer
1984Quilombo ... Writer
1980Bye Bye Brazil ... Writer
1979Na Boca do Mundo ... Story
1978Summer Showers ... Screenplay
1976Xica ... Writer
1974The Star Rises ... Writer
1973Joanna Francesa ... Screenplay
1972When Carnaval Comes ... Writer
1970The Heirs ... Writer
1969Pobre Príncipe Encantado ... Screenstory
1967Adorável Trapalhão ... Writer
1966The Big City ... Screenplay
1963Ganga Zumba ... Writer
1962Five Times Favela ... Writer
Art
1972When Carnaval Comes ... Art Direction
Editing
1965O Circo ... Editor