Directed by Carla Camurati, Brazil, 1995, 100 minutes. “A hot blooded Spanish princess plots to conquer her enemies and become queen.” This movie was the first movie produced after the Collor Era (the Brazilian President which canceled all the government incentives for the cinema industry). Defying classification, this surreal historical comedy, told like a fairy tale, was the top-ranking film in Brazil at that time. Such an impulse was decisive to regain the trust in the Brazilian Cinema Industry. (IMDb) “Carlota… is the film that might have resulted if Monty Python had attempted to recount the history of 19th century Brazil.” Deborah Young, in Variety.
Directed by Lúcia Murat, Brazil/Portugal, 2000, 194 minutes. The story is located in the area of the Pantanal Matogrossense, in the region of the middle-Paraguay, in 1778. A young Portuguese cartographer finds new forms of love, war and a wild new world in an expedition into South American heart. Brave New Land is both a frequently beautiful and gruesome film created as a tribute to the Guaicuru Indians (portrayed in the film by primarily non-actor natives of the Kadweu tribe). The beauties of the land and of native customs are displayed well, as are the brutality of the Portuguese invaders and the often-shocking native rituals.
Directed by Karim Aïnouz, Brazil/France, 2002, 105 minutes. It is at the Blue Danube that street tough João Francisco dos Santos (Lázaro Ramos) begins to sing, and the mythic drag artiste Madame Satã, inspired in the 1930 Cecil B. DeMille's Madam Satan, is born. The story is limited to a short period (1932-1942) and is very realistic, inclusive showing the homosexual activity of João Francisco. Featuring Marcélia Cartaxo (“Hour of the Star”) as the charming prostitute Laurita. Madame Satã is just another example of this new Brazilian cinematography.
Directed by Sandra Werneck, Brazil, 2001, 98 minutes. “Fifteen year ago, Carlos (Murilo Benício, The Man of the Year) went to the cinema to meet Júlia, his university colleague with whom he was in love. She never showed up. Carlos was left waiting in the lobby alone. While he waits, something happens which will change his life. Fifteen years later, we follow three completely different versions of Carlos's life.” (IMDb) A comedy-drama that in the words of the director is “about romantic possibilities in the lives of normal people -people whose destinies can forever be changed by a sudden downpour of rain or a traffic-jam.”
Directed by Guel Arraes, Brazil, 2000, 104 minutes. The lively João Grilo (Mathews Nachtergaele, City of God, Yellow Mango) and the sly Chicó are poor guys living in the hinterland who cheat a bunch of people in a small Northeast Brazil town. But when they die, they have to be judged by Christ, the Devil and the Virgin Mary – “Compadecida” (Fernanda Montenegro, Central Station) before they are admitted to paradise. One of the funniest movies ever made amongst the post-1980s Brazilian productions. (IMDb)
Directed by Helvécio Ratton, Brazil, 2002, 92 minutes. Inspired by the true story of a community radio station formed in the 1980s in Belo Horizonte, capital of Minas Gerais state, during the last years of the military dictatorship. Jorge and his friends have an opinion on every issue affecting the slum that they live in, especially when it comes to racism in Brazil. They created "Radio Favela" to serve as the voice for the people. In this movie, the favela (slum) serves as a backdrop for the story, whilst in City of God the favela is 'the main character' and the actors are 'the backdrops'. (IMDb)
Directed by Beto Brant, Brazil, 2002, 97 minutes. Two businessmen have their partner killed by a hitman Anísio. The murder is blamed on the city, but things begin to look very grim indeed when witty and charismatic walking nightmare Anísio decides he wants to be around the ever so nervous partners in crime, not only trespassing but, more importantly, deconstructing the strict social codes that make up upper class Brazilian society. Extremely tense thriller set in the urban chaos of São Paulo. (IMDb)
Directed by Jorge Furtado, Brazil, 2003, 123 minutes. André (Lázaro Ramos, Madame Satã) 19, lives in Porto Alegre, South of Brazil, and works as a photocopier operator. He likes to see his neighbor Sílvia with a telescope. She works selling clothes. Becoming attracted to her, he tries to get nearer, and goes to her shop to buy something, but finds out that he can't afford it. So he puts the photocopier to other uses, and begins to envisage fishy schemes to earn some money. This movie has it all - adventure, crime, romance, friendship, humor. (IMDb)
Directed by Monique Gardenberg, Brazil, 2003, 109 minutes. Based on the homonymous novel by famous Brazilian songwriter/singer/playwriter/novelist Chico Buarque, Benjamin is the story of aging advertising model Benjamim Zambraiais, who had his moment of fame thirty years ago, now a lonely man with a tragic past. One day, he casually meets a woman, Ariela, who looks very much like his former love, Castana. This fact changes his life, driving him to an emotional journey with an unexpected end. (IMDb)
