Torre Bela

This precious documentary gives its viewers a rare insight into the communist/socialist mindset and what it really means in practice. The documentary was filmed with the clear intention of praising the Portuguese revolutionary process that took place from the April 25, 1974, revolution, which overturned the old, authoritarian Estado Novo regime installed in 1926, until the democratic coup of November 25, 1975. The directors’ intentions totally backfire, however, since what the documentary makes really clear is how a small bunch of revolutionaries can manipulate a mob of peasants into performing acts it formerly considered unthinkable: namely, robbing and invading the property of others. Hence, this attempt at a pamphlet is actually a superb indictment of the communist/socialist opposition to private property. A must. — Manuel Menezes de Sequeira