Os Brasileiros e a Conquista do Ar

The first Brazilians who engaged in aviation, from Bartolomeu Lourenço de Gusmão with his hot air balloon to Alberto Santos Dumont, giving Brazil a prominent place in aviation. The creation of the Military Air Mail (CAM) and the Brazilian aviation industry. Commemoration of the centenary of the birth of Santos Dumont. The house where Santos Dumont was born; Bartolomeu Gusmão (Santos - SP); small hot air balloon Júlio César Ribeiro de Souza; 1881: his Victory balloon flies in Paris; Augusto Ribeiro; Santos Dumont: the balloon in the Torre Eifel, the 14 bis, the 'Demoiselle': real scenes of the time. Edu Chaves flies the Rio-Buenos Aires route in the 1920s. Current era: manufacture of the Bandeirante (assembly line). President Médici flies in the first Bandeirante; Xavante and Ipanema, Universal, rego elo and other models manufactured by Embraer in São José dos Campos.

Directed by Jurandyr Passos Noronha, Os Brasileiros e a Conquista do Ar leans on a strong ensemble — Emilio Garrastazu Médici, Alberto Santos Dumont, Paulo César Peréio — 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 1973.