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1960s – 1980s

Third Cinema

A political cinema from Latin America, Africa and Asia that rejected both Hollywood and European art cinema. Made on low budgets with revolutionary aims, it used documentary, allegory and collective storytelling.

The name Third Cinema comes from the 1969 manifesto Towards a Third Cinema by the Argentine directors Fernando Solanas and Octavio Getino, who made The Hour of the Furnaces. They called Hollywood the first cinema, European art film the second, and a cinema of liberation from poverty and colonial rule the third. Directors in Latin America, Africa and Asia answered with films such as Glauber Rocha's Black God, White Devil, Gillo Pontecorvo's The Battle of Algiers, Tomás Gutiérrez Alea's Memories of Underdevelopment, Ousmane Sembène's Black Girl and Patricio Guzmán's The Battle of Chile. Many were made secretly or in exile and shown in union halls and villages.

Where
Latin America, Africa and parts of Asia
When
About 1960 to the late 1980s
Key figures
Fernando Solanas, Octavio Getino, Glauber Rocha, Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Ousmane Sembène, Jorge Sanjinés, Patricio Guzmán, Gillo Pontecorvo
Landmark films
Black God, White Devil (1964), The Battle of Algiers (1966), Black Girl (1966), Memories of Underdevelopment (1968), The Hour of the Furnaces (1968)
Legacy
A political idea of film that still shapes documentary, protest cinema and the work of directors across the global south

What to look for

  • Real places, non-professional actors and everyday faces
  • Documentary footage mixed with allegory, song and ritual
  • Images meant to start an argument, with the film often finished by the audience's discussion

If you are new to Third Cinema, take a look at our guide to start.

Black God, White DevilThird Cinema · 10 filmsThird Cinema in 10 filmsIn the 1960s and 1970s directors in Latin America, Africa and Asia said cinema should help free people, not just entertain them.START

Famous Directors

Fernando SolanasArgentinaTomás Gutiérrez AleaCubaHumberto SolásCubaSantiago ÁlvarezCubaJorge SanjinésBoliviaOusmane SembèneSenegalMed HondoMauritania / FranceSouleymane CisséMaliGillo PontecorvoItalyMohammed Lakhdar-HaminaAlgeriaMiguel LittínChilePatricio GuzmánChileRaymundo GleyzerArgentinaFernando BirriArgentinaHaile GerimaEthiopia / USADjibril Diop MambétySenegalSarah MaldororFrance / AngolaGlauber RochaBrazilNelson Pereira dos SantosBrazilRuy GuerraMozambique / BrazilSafi FayeSenegalKKwaw AnsahGhanaSergio GiralCubaMerzak AllouacheAlgeria
See all 37 directors
Lino BrockaPhilippinesKidlat TahimikPhilippinesSara GómezCubaLourdes PortilloUSAJJorge PreloránArgentinaMarta RodríguezColombiaJulio García EspinosaCubaMManuel Octavio GómezCubaPastor VegaCubaMario HandlerUruguayPaulin Soumanou VieyraSenegalHelvio SotoArgentinaDDaniel Díaz TorresCuba

Top 100 rated films

  1. The Battle of Chile 1979 · Patricio Guzmán · IMDb 8.3
  2. The Battle of Chile: Part II 1976 · Patricio Guzmán · IMDb 8.2
  3. Hermógenes Cayo (Imaginero) 1969 · Jorge Prelorán · IMDb 8.2
  4. The Battle of Algiers 1966 · Gillo Pontecorvo · IMDb 8.1
  5. The Battle of Chile (1975) 1975 · Patricio Guzmán · IMDb 8.1
  6. The Days of the Dead 1988 · Lourdes Portillo · IMDb 8.1
  7. Mexico: The Frozen Revolution 1973 · Raymundo Gleyzer · IMDb 8.0
  8. Plains: Testimony of an Ethnocide 1971 · Marta Rodríguez · IMDb 8.0
  9. Rio, Northern Zone 1957 · Nelson Pereira dos Santos · IMDb 7.9
  10. Love Brewed in the African Pot 1980 · Kwaw Ansah · IMDb 7.9
  11. Manila in the Claws of Light 1975 · Lino Brocka · IMDb 7.8
  12. Camp de Thiaroye 1988 · Ousmane Sembène · IMDb 7.7
  13. Boca de Ouro 1963 · Nelson Pereira dos Santos · IMDb 7.7
  14. Our Voice of Earth, Memory and Future 1982 · Marta Rodríguez · IMDb 7.7
  15. It Happened in Hualfin 1965 · Jorge Prelorán · IMDb 7.7
  16. Memories of Underdevelopment 1968 · Tomás Gutiérrez Alea · IMDb 7.6
  17. Death of a Bureaucrat 1966 · Tomás Gutiérrez Alea · IMDb 7.6
  18. The Hour of the Furnaces 1968 · Fernando Solanas · IMDb 7.6
  19. The Jackal of Nahueltoro 1969 · Miguel Littín · IMDb 7.6
  20. The Battle of Chile: Part III 1979 · Patricio Guzmán · IMDb 7.6
  21. Os Fuzis 1964 · Ruy Guerra · IMDb 7.6
  22. Vidas Secas 1963 · Nelson Pereira dos Santos · IMDb 7.5
  23. Insiang 1976 · Lino Brocka · IMDb 7.5
  24. Rio, 40 Degrees 1955 · Nelson Pereira dos Santos · IMDb 7.5
  25. The Last Supper 1976 · Tomás Gutiérrez Alea · IMDb 7.5
  26. Weighed But Found Wanting 1974 · Lino Brocka · IMDb 7.5
  27. A Queda 1978 · Ruy Guerra · IMDb 7.5
  28. Bloody Nitrate 1969 · Helvio Soto · IMDb 7.5
  29. Black Girl 1966 · Ousmane Sembène · IMDb 7.4
  30. The Brickmakers 1972 · Marta Rodríguez · IMDb 7.4
  31. Maranhão 66 1966 · Glauber Rocha · IMDb 7.4
  32. Carlos: Film Portrait of a Montevideo Panhandler 1965 · Mario Handler · IMDb 7.4
  33. Entranced Earth 1967 · Glauber Rocha · IMDb 7.3
  34. Mandabi 1968 · Ousmane Sembène · IMDb 7.3
  35. Sur 1988 · Fernando Solanas · IMDb 7.3
  36. Oh, Sun 1970 · Med Hondo · IMDb 7.3
  37. Chronicle of the Years of Fire 1975 · Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina · IMDb 7.3
  38. La nación clandestina 1989 · Jorge Sanjinés · IMDb 7.3
  39. Los inundados 1961 · Fernando Birri · IMDb 7.3
  40. After the Earthquake 1979 · Lourdes Portillo · IMDb 7.3
  41. Borom Sarret 1963 · Ousmane Sembène · IMDb 7.2
  42. Cain and Abel 1982 · Lino Brocka · IMDb 7.2
  43. West Indies 1979 · Med Hondo · IMDb 7.2
  44. El coraje del pueblo 1971 · Jorge Sanjinés · IMDb 7.2
  45. Jaguar 1980 · Lino Brocka · IMDb 7.2
  46. El otro Francisco 1977 · Sergio Giral · IMDb 7.2
  47. Heritage Africa 1989 · Kwaw Ansah · IMDb 7.2
  48. Me gustan los estudiantes 1968 · Mario Handler · IMDb 7.2
  49. Queimada 1969 · Gillo Pontecorvo · IMDb 7.1
  50. Black God, White Devil 1964 · Glauber Rocha · IMDb 7.1
  51. Lucía 1968 · Humberto Solás · IMDb 7.1
  52. Barravento 1962 · Glauber Rocha · IMDb 7.1
  53. Tangos: The Exile of Gardel 1985 · Fernando Solanas · IMDb 7.1
  54. Blood of the Condor 1969 · Jorge Sanjinés · IMDb 7.1
  55. Emitaï 1971 · Ousmane Sembène · IMDb 7.1
  56. This Is My Country 1984 · Lino Brocka · IMDb 7.1
  57. Letter from My Village 1975 · Safi Faye · IMDb 7.1
  58. The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo 1985 · Lourdes Portillo · IMDb 7.1
  59. Chucalezna 1968 · Jorge Prelorán · IMDb 7.1
  60. Antonio das Mortes 1969 · Glauber Rocha · IMDb 7.0
  61. Sambizanga 1972 · Sarah Maldoror · IMDb 7.0
  62. One Way or Another 1977 · Sara Gómez · IMDb 7.0
  63. Os Cafajestes 1962 · Ruy Guerra · IMDb 7.0
  64. Di Cavalcanti Di Glauber 1977 · Glauber Rocha · IMDb 7.0
  65. Toss Me a Dime 1958 · Fernando Birri · IMDb 7.0
  66. Sarraounia 1986 · Med Hondo · IMDb 7.0
  67. Gallego 1988 · Manuel Octavio Gómez · IMDb 7.0
  68. Manuela 1966 · Humberto Solás · IMDb 7.0
  69. Touki Bouki 1973 · Djibril Diop Mambéty · IMDb 6.9
  70. Yeelen 1987 · Souleymane Cissé · IMDb 6.9
  71. Perfumed Nightmare 1977 · Kidlat Tahimik · IMDb 6.9
  72. Now! 1965 · Santiago Álvarez · IMDb 6.9
  73. Voto + Fusil 1971 · Helvio Soto · IMDb 6.9
  74. The Days of Water 1971 · Manuel Octavio Gómez · IMDb 6.9
  75. La iglesia de Yavi 1972 · Jorge Prelorán · IMDb 6.9
  76. 79 Springs 1969 · Santiago Álvarez · IMDb 6.8
  77. Actas de Marusia 1975 · Miguel Littín · IMDb 6.8
  78. The Amulet of Ogum 1974 · Nelson Pereira dos Santos · IMDb 6.8
  79. The First Charge of the Machete 1969 · Manuel Octavio Gómez · IMDb 6.8
  80. Xala 1975 · Ousmane Sembène · IMDb 6.7
  81. How Tasty Was My Little Frenchman 1971 · Nelson Pereira dos Santos · IMDb 6.7
  82. LBJ 1968 · Santiago Álvarez · IMDb 6.7
  83. Hanoi, Tuesday 13th 1969 · Santiago Álvarez · IMDb 6.7
  84. Portrait of Teresa 1979 · Pastor Vega · IMDb 6.7
  85. Hasta cierto punto 1983 · Tomás Gutiérrez Alea · IMDb 6.7
  86. The Sand Dune 1955 · Julio García Espinosa · IMDb 6.7
  87. Liber Arce, liberarse 1969 · Mario Handler · IMDb 6.7
  88. Ceddo 1977 · Ousmane Sembène · IMDb 6.6
  89. Eréndira 1983 · Ruy Guerra · IMDb 6.6
  90. Macho Dancer 1989 · Lino Brocka · IMDb 6.6
  91. Ópera do Malandro 1986 · Ruy Guerra · IMDb 6.6
  92. Finyé 1982 · Souleymane Cissé · IMDb 6.6
  93. Baara 1978 · Souleymane Cissé · IMDb 6.6
  94. Badou Boy 1970 · Djibril Diop Mambéty · IMDb 6.6
  95. Omar Gatlato 1976 · Merzak Allouache · IMDb 6.6
  96. Den Muso 1975 · Souleymane Cissé · IMDb 6.6
  97. A Successful Man 1985 · Humberto Solás · IMDb 6.6
  98. Cantata de Chile 1975 · Humberto Solás · IMDb 6.6
  99. Luther Metke at 94 1980 · Jorge Prelorán · IMDb 6.6
  100. Cuba Dances 1961 · Julio García Espinosa · IMDb 6.6