The City of Pirates poster

The City of Pirates

"Inspired by the life and work of cartoonist Laerte"

Movie 2018 1h 20m 5.9 /10

On screen, a filmmaker wrestles with his new project when his imagined hero suddenly resists the boundaries of the script. Laerte, the central figure, starts to drift away from the Pirates of the Tietê that shaped his story. As the creator feels the approach of his own end, he stops pretending to... Read more

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Streaming availability last verified: January 14, 2026

About The City of Pirates

On screen, a filmmaker wrestles with his new project when his imagined hero suddenly resists the boundaries of the script. Laerte, the central figure, starts to drift away from the Pirates of the Tietê that shaped his story. As the creator feels the approach of his own end, he stops pretending to be merely an observer and begins to fuse his life with the movie he is making. The result is a tangled, almost labyrinthine pull between fiction and reality, where characters speak back and the director is forced to confront his own desires, fears, and failures. The film keeps twists off limits, inviting curiosity rather than certainty. Its self reflective tone keeps shifting as new material emerges. The film keeps the audience guessing with playful shifts and micro revelations.

Released in 2018, The City of Pirates is directed by Otto Guerra, Tomás Creus and Gilmar Rodrigues. It draws on Laerte Coutinho's life and her Pirates of the Tietê as source material, presenting a documentary that blends art and autobiography.

Box office data for this title is not widely reported. It's primarily positioned as an art house documentary rather than a mainstream blockbuster, and no publicly disclosed figures are readily available. Its reach is primarily festival and limited release worldwide.

According to available references, the film has not received major award nominations. It has been recognized in some film circuits for its experimental blend of animation and memoir, but there are no widely cited wins or Academy, Emmy, or Globes nominations to report. Such absence reflects its niche, independent reception.

Critics view The City of Pirates as a sharp look at authorship and life blurred by art. The film treats Laerte Coutinho and the Pirates of the Tietê as living forces that challenge the director's grip on memory, mortality, and the act of storytelling. It invites conversation about creativity itself.

Details

Release Date
August 17, 2018
Runtime
1h 20m
User Ratings
7 votes
Type
Movie
Genres
Animation, Documentary
Country
Brazil
Studio
Otto Desenhos Animados
External Links
View on IMDB

Cast

Laerte Coutinho

Laerte Coutinho

Laerte Coutinho (voice)

Matheus Nachtergaele

Matheus Nachtergaele

Ivan (voice)

Marco Ricca

Marco Ricca

Azevedo (voice)

Marcos Contreras

Marcos Contreras

Capitão (voice)

A

Antônio Carlos Falcão

Tobruk(a) / Piratas (voice)

M

Márcia Caspary

Gi (voice)

G

Gabriel Ditelles

Muriel / Caçador (voice)

Marco Arruda

Marco Arruda

Minotauro (voice)

Otto Guerra

Otto Guerra

Otto Guerra (voice)

Marta Machado

Marta Machado

Marta Machado (voice)

Written by: Otto Guerra, Tomás Creus, Gilmar Rodrigues

Frequently Asked Questions

The City of Pirates is not currently available to stream, rent, or buy online in the US. Check back later for updates.

With a rating of 5.9/10 from 7 viewers, The City of Pirates is a mixed bag - check out reviews to see if it's right for you.

On screen, a filmmaker wrestles with his new project when his imagined hero suddenly resists the boundaries of the script. Laerte, the central figure, starts to drift away from the Pirates of the Tietê that shaped his story. As the creator feels the approach of his own end, he stops pretending to...

The City of Pirates stars Laerte Coutinho, Matheus Nachtergaele, Marco Ricca, Marcos Contreras, and Antônio Carlos Falcão.

The City of Pirates was released on August 17, 2018.

The City of Pirates is a Animation and Documentary film.

Yes, it's a documentary-animated hybrid that follows Laerte Coutinho as the director-protagonist. The film blends real life and fiction by having Laerte's persona intersect with the story of the Pirates of the Tietê.

Laerte Coutinho voices Laerte Coutinho. Matheus Nachtergaele voices Ivan, Marco Ricca voices Azevedo, Marcos Contreras voices Capitão, and Antônio Carlos Falcão voices Tobruk(a) / Piratas.

The film follows a director who is trying to finish his new movie while his protagonist Laerte renegades her former characters. To tell his drama, the director blends his own persona with the story, creating a chaotic mix of fiction and real life.

It's a blend of animation and documentary. The storytelling uses animation to explore real life events around Laerte Coutinho and the film within the film.