the film is "loosely based" on the 1979 memoir "o que é isso companheiro?" (in english: "what's this, comrade?"), written by politician fernando gabeira. in 1969, as a member of revolutionary movement 8th october (mr-8), a student guerrilla group, he participated in the abduction of the united states ambassador to brazil, negotiating to gain release of leftist political prisoners. mr-8 was protesting the recent takeover of brazil by a military government and seeking the release of political prisoners. but, the military increased its repression of dissent, mr-8 and aln members were tortured by the police, and democracy was not re-established in brazil until 1989.