Our Purpose
In October 2023, Stained Glass Films embarked on a two-week trip to Salvador, Brazil through Villanova University's International Social Justice Documentary Course. Located in the region of Bahia, Salvador has the largest African population outside of the African continent. During our time in Salvador, we gained a better understanding of the culture, history and societal challenges of Salvador. Centralizing upon the Quilombo Quingoma and Itapuã communities, we continually seek to understand the ways in which generations intercommunicate to preserve their culture. We asked many questions: How do these communities pass on their culture and knowledge through each generation? How do they combat struggle to ensure the preservation of their identity? We hope to gain insight into some of these answers through the formation of new relationships with our collaborators.
In October 2023, Stained Glass Films traveled to Salvador, Bahia, Brazil and spent two weeks immersing ourselves in Bahian culture with the guidance and support of Dr. Amari Johnson, whose research is based in Marronage, African Diaspora, African Diasporic Culture, Community Autonomy, Education, Homeschooling, and Independent Black Institutions. Inspired by Dr. Johnson’s research, we filmed a documentary that tells the story of a Quilombola leader, Rejane, and how she raises her daughter, Raquel, to preserve their Afro-Brazilian, Quilombo culture.
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While in Bahia, we visited a favela in Itapuã where Capoeira Mundo Negro resides, a capoeira studio led by Mestre Guga. Stained Glass Films was touched by Mestre Guga's story, inspired to capture his beautiful message. His story emphasizes the importance of passing on culture through his dedication to his student, his community, and himself.
As Stained Glass Films, we are excited to share many stories of the powerful families, community leaders, and youth we met in Salvador across our social platforms leading up to the premiere of our two documentaries: Art of Resistance and Mestre Guga.
About
Our Projects
Art of
Resistance
Passing on culture is passing on power.
Arte Da Resistência is a story of maternal leadership told through Rejane Rodrigues, a Quilombola from Quilombo Quingoma. Rejane leads through an inspiration from her ancestry, her mother, Dona Raquel, and her 8-year-old daughter, Raquel Rodrigues. The title, Arte Da Resistência, pays homage to the Quingoma ancestors who established their quilombo as a beacon of democracy and equality— a place where African people remain resilient, reclaim their freedom, celebrate their heritage and survive.
@rejanequilombola @quingomaquilombo
Mestre Guga
Be a beacon of light in adversity.
Guga Oliveira is a capoeira master living in the urban community of Itapuã, Salvador. Mestre Guga depicts Guga's strong relationships with his community as a capoeira master, a father and a beacon of light.
The narrative follows Guga and his nine-year-old daughter, Catharine, as they guide his young students through the favela to his capoeira studio. He emphasizes the importance of education, teaching his students both this form of martial arts and life values. Although seen as a beacon of light in his community, Guga bears a great burden that his light may soon go out. This documentary demonstrates the transforming power of an individual on a community. Guga dispenses his own social justice everyday and works to prioritize education, even if it may be unequally distributed within his community. He seeks to strike a balance between a fight for justice and mentorship.
@mestregugamn @capoieramundonegro
Peaking Through the Sand
Echoes of Tradition, Waves of the Future
Peaking Through the Sand is a story about the resilience of a single mother, Dany, who lives in Tubarão, a favela rooted in tradition. She supports both her son, Paulo, and her community through prioritizing education and environmental nourishment. Dany values education and wants to keep her son enrolled in private school; however, a lack of funds halts her goal. Paulo is a direct representation of power within Bahía that stems from the educated youth. A strong tradition within Tubarão is clam collecting, which began as a survival tactic for the indigenous people; however, today, it has been transformed to a community-building pastime activity. Dany collects clams as an opportunity to strengthen the relationships within her community and with her son. In this film, Dany takes us through a day in her life: bringing Paulo to school, picking him up and finally, clam collecting together. Ultimately, Peaking Through the Sand is all-encompassing of a generational cycle modeled by the loving and happy relationship between a mother and son.
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@dany___hora
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