The JK Years: A Political Trajectory

From the end of World War II through the late 1960s Brazil, this documentary threads the story of Juscelino Kubitschek and the era he helped define. It shows how JK framed development as a national mission and how his big plans reshaped the country’s economy and landscape. Through archival footage, speeches, and conversations with contemporaries, the film traces the rise of a leader who became a symbol of progress while inviting questions about the human and political costs of rapid modernization. Rather than a straight biography, it maps the ideas, alliances, and controversies that powered a nation in motion. By weighing political strategy against social change, it invites viewers to consider growth and its costs. For critics and fans alike.

Released in 1980, the film relies on archival footage and interviews. It features appearances by Juscelino Kubitschek and Tancredo Neves, Renato Archer as himself, with Othon Bastos as Narrator, and Claudio Bojunga shaping a focused historical look at JK's era.

Box office figures for this documentary are not publicly documented, reflecting its niche release and archival focus rather than mass market appeal. It circulated mainly through festivals, educational programs, and retrospective screenings, contributing to Tendler's standing as a critical documentarian.

Over the years the documentary has been cited in discussions of Brazil's modernization myth and political memory. It situates JK within an arc of development thinking and has helped frame debates on public works and governance. It has been used in classrooms and retrospectives, shaping how audiences imagine that period.

Critics have noted the film's measured tone and its emphasis on economic philosophy as a driver of history. It probes how ambitious projects alter a nation's social fabric and invites reflection on progress, power, and the cost of rapid change. The result is a thoughtful portrait that stays with you.