“Repair It Well”: Transnational and Transgenerational Memories of the Brazilian Military Dictatorship

This work is a collective reflection on the transnational and transgenerational memories of the Brazilian military dictatorship (1964-1985), particularly in the context of exile. It aims to connect two analytical focuses related to the research of its authors: the memories of childhood during exile and the experience of Brazilian exile in a transnational context, with an emphasis on Italy. The primary research material analyzed is the film "Repare Bem" (originally "Les Yeux de Bacuri"), produced in 2013 during a period of growing public memory policies in Brazil, including the National Truth Commission (2012-2014). The film features testimonies from Denise Crispim, a militant and partner of Eduardo Leite, both involved in the armed organization Aliança Libertadora Nacional (ALN), as well as from their daughter, Eduarda Crispim Leite Ditta, who was raised in Italy and later moved to the Netherlands, before both she and her mother received amnesty from the Brazilian state. In this work, we explore the various ways exile influences everyday life today, blurring the line between extraordinary events and daily experiences across generations. Additionally, we reflect on the memories of two generations affected by the dictatorship, challenging social definitions of "victims" as either "directly" or "indirectly" impacted, as well as “exile” itself as a consequence of state violence.