Glauber Rocha’s ‘Cabeças Cortadas’ to receive 4K restoration

The 1970 film ‘Cabeças Cortadas’, directed by Brazilian filmmaker Glauber Rocha, will undergo a digital 4K restoration, with a release expected in 2027. The project is a collaborative effort involving the Escuela de Cine de Madrid (Ecam), Vídeo Mercury Films, and the FlixOlé platform.

Produced during Rocha’s exile in Catalonia, Spain, the film is a Spanish-Brazilian co-production that serves as a political allegory regarding the decay of dictatorial regimes in both Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula. The narrative features a tyrant, portrayed by Spanish actor Francisco Rabal, whose character draws parallels to both Latin American despots and Francisco Franco.

Critics and filmmakers describe the work as a ‘rare jewel’ that breaks from traditional Hollywood commercial standards, blending elements of theater and poetry. The restoration aims to preserve the cinematic legacy of Rocha and make the film accessible to new generations through improved visual and auditory quality.