Open Skies

When Brazil finally came out from its dictatorship period, Tancredo Neves, the first civilian president after 20 years of military rule, got ill with a strange infection and finally died on 21 April 1985 before taking office. Knowing political stability could get compromised, before dying, he tried to look healthy, and the press also helped with the farce. The documentary is about his slow public agony and death.

Directed by João Batista de Andrade, Open Skies leans on a strong ensemble — Tancredo Neves — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 1985.