Ôri follows Black movements in Brazil between 1977 and 1988, with the career of Beatriz Nascimento — the historian who shaped anti-racist and feminist thought in the country — at its centre. The film is anchored in the relation between Brazil and Africa, problematising the search for a social, political and cultural identity that includes Black communities. Quilombos — central in Beatriz Nascimento’s research — are shown to be important to the formation of nationality, with particular reference to the influence of African culture on traditional Brazilian costume.