“A raw showing of the Transamazonic Road”
A girl from the countryside goes to the city of Belém to take part in the Círio de Nazaré celebrations. Led to prostitution, she wishes to move to the wealthiest Southeast region of Brazil. In a dance club, she meets a truck driver that transports wood. Dreaming with the big city, she asks for a ride, and the two begin a journey through the Trans-Amazon road. In tension with the Brazilian military authorities of the time, the film registers several aspects of the Amazon social tragedy – forest fires, slave work and child prostitution. Awarded in several international festivals, the film was forbidden by Brazilian censors. It was only released years later, winning the Brasília Film Festival in 1981.
Where to watch
Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
Your rating
Your review
Cast
12 people
Edna de Cássia
Iracema
Also in
Once Upon a Time There Was Iracema
Moon River
Paulo César Peréio
Tião
Known for
Lady on the Bus
Drained
Conceição Senna
Teresa
Also in
Nuclear Shelter
The Invisible Collection
Rose Rodrigues
Also in
Abortion
Fernando Neves
Also in
As Pupilas do Senhor Reitor
I Remember
Sidnei Piñon
Natal
Elma Martins
Wilmar Nunes
Lúcio dos Santos
Orlando Senna
Pilot (uncredited)
Also in
Sinais de Cinza, A Peleja de Olney Contra o Dragão da Maldade
Anabazys: O Terceiro Testamento de Glauber Rocha
Margarida Alves Gouveia
Iracema's Mother (uncredited)
Jorge Bodanzky Director · Orlando Senna Director Hermano Penna Story
United States release May 25, 1982 · Produced in Brazil, Germany · Production Stopfilm
Production
ZDF
Production
Stopfilm
Production
Brazil · Germany
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Iracema: Uma Transa Amazônica
Original language
Portuguese
Spoken on screen
Portuguese
Release dates
Italy · July 14, 1975
Premiere · Taormina Film Festival
Brazil · March 30, 1981
Limited theatrical
United States · May 25, 1982
Theatrical · New York City, New York
United States
December 19, 2012 · Limited theatrical · New York IFC Center
Brazil
November 24, 1980 · Premiere · Festival de Brasília do Cinema Brasileiro
October 8, 2024 · Premiere · Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival (Remastered Version)
July 17, 2025 · Limited theatrical · Restored Version
France
May 1, 1976 · Premiere · Cannes International Critics' Week
June 2, 1976 · Theatrical
Germany
February 17, 2025 · Premiere · Berlin International Film Festival (Digitally Restored Version)
Greece
May 13, 2006 · Premiere · Ecocinema Festival
Poland
February 16, 1979 · Theatrical
June 20, 2007 · Premiere · Latin America Film Festival
Sweden
February 20, 1976 · TV
More from Jorge Bodanzky
Other films they directed, best known first.
If you liked Iracema
Picks that share its genres, themes, cast and crew.
Some details come from TheTVDB.