National classic returned to movie theaters 50 years after its release thanks to a meticulous restoration of the image
The film São Paulo, Sociedade Anônima was remastered in 4K resolution and was shown again in theaters with the support of Petrobras. This national classic completed 60 years of release in 2025.
The protagonist of São Paulo, Sociedade Anônima is Carlos, played by Walmor Chagas. The plot takes place between 1957 and 1961, with the newly instituted Brazilian automobile industry as its central element.
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To put it in context, in 1956 President Juscelino Kubitschek created the decree that contained the basic guidelines related to the Brazilian Automobile Industry. With this, the Executive Group of the Automobile Industry (GEIA) was created.
Until then, Brazil only assembled cars under the CKD and SKD regimes, with very low rates of nationalization. JK’s decree kicked off the industry as we know it, bringing new car and auto parts factories.
The proposal was to increase the nationalization rate of cars gradually, to generate jobs directly and indirectly. Most of these factories were located in the ABC Paulista region.
Returning to the film, Carlos is a young man who works at the Volkswagen factory. He receives the opportunity to be a partner in an auto parts factory to supply components to the German brand.
The plot develops following Carlos’ relationships, his work and the pressures made by the city of São Paulo. In the film there are records of what the Volkswagen factory was like and we can see the production of the Beetle.
São Paulo, Sociedade Anônima also records what the streets of the largest city in Brazil were like. 50 years ago they were already busy and full of cars, with the national Beetles, Simcas and DKW sharing space with North American models from the 40s and 50s.
Carlos’ partner drives a 1959 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 Fiesta station wagon. The protagonist calls the car a “monstrosity” and questions why he doesn’t have one of the national cars made in São Paulo.
They also filmed the first factories in the national automotive sector, it is possible to see the units of Mercedes-Benz, Vemag, Volkwagen, SKF and others in the scenes. All of this was just the beginning of the industrial park we have today, which continues to grow.
In addition to traffic, another characteristic of the city shown in São Paulo, Sociedade Anônima que não mudar is the pressure it puts on people. The frenetic pace and indifference are old characteristics of the capital of São Paulo.
São Paulo, Sociedade Anônima is still playing in some theaters. If you don’t have it in your city, you can watch it on Netflix streaming.
