“The best film in the Cannes Quinzaine, Nelson Pereira dos Santos' Memories of Prison is based, as was his earlier ground-breaking Vidas secas, on a book by Graciliano Ramos, said to be the greatest writer Brazil has ever produced. Though set in the '30s it is, I think, meant to be a metaphor for Brazilian society today and a film against prisons in the widest sense of the word.... Not the least interesting thing about the film is the fact that while most of the cast are men, one result of our hero's becoming a political prisoner is the great change it brings about in his wife.... (Her) husband's absence makes her become incredibly resourceful, transforms her into a new woman and, in spite of everything, a much happier one. This is a film to look out for.” Richard Roud, The Guardian.