Since 2009, this popular Brazilian music documentary series has exposed New York audiences to feature films whose subjects are the luminaries of the Brazilian music world past and present; Vinicius de Moraes, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Simonal, Lenine, Tom Zé, Paulinho da Viola, Nana Cayammi, Dzi Croquettes, Martinho da Vila, Maria Bethânia, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, Otros Bárbaros, Arnoldo Baptista, Velha Guarda de Portela, and Humberto Teixeira. In addition to portraits of single artists some of the films diverse subjects have been historical moments like the TV festivals of 1967, the language of poetry in Brazilian music and the global influence of Brazilian music.
The Fall 2011 series continues to explore important Brazilian musicians with portraits of two great samba stars. Elza (Izabel Jaguaribe and Ernesto Baldan), an in depth look at Elza Soares, one of Brazil's original samba superstars and É Candeia(Márcia Watzl) about the short life of the Afro-Brazilian artist Candeia, whose struggle for black empowerment crosses through generations.
The 60's and 70's in Brazil are examined in two different documentaries on the period. Samba's Evening (Cély Leal) chronicles the famous musical/political"Samba Evenings" at Teatro Opinião in Rio de Janeiro during Brazil's military dictatorship. The Sons of João, the Admirable New Baiano World (Henrique Dantas) shows the influence of João Gilberto on the the revolutionary musical group Novos Baianos and explores the issues of the time such as counterculture, film, Tropicália and military dictatorship.
É CANDEIA
(Márcia Watzl, Brazil, 2010, 79 min. In Portuguese with English subtitles)
"Composer Candeia passed away in 1978. He was only 43. Candeia left important works in samba, partido alto, jongo and samba-enredo. Representative of afro-brazilian tradition, he wrote sophisticated melodies and refined lyrics. His struggle for black empowerment crosses through generations. In 2008, the awarded musical É Samba na veia, É Candeia was a tribute to his life and work. Through rehearsals and shows, the documentary Candeia underscores the composer's music and career, as well as his influence on the actors." —Rio International Film Festival
Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 7pm
THE SONS OF JOÃO, THE ADMIRABLE NEW BAIANO WORLD / FILHOS DE JOÃO, ADMIRÁVEL MUNDO NOVO
(Henrique Dantas, Brazil, 2009, 75 min. In Portuguese with English subtitles)
A look at the Brazilian popular music scene in the 60s and 70s through the revolutionary musical group Novos Baianos. The film shows the influence of João Gilberto on the group's musical direction and prospects the community lifestyle adopted by them, among issues experienced by the group, such as counterculture, film, Tropicália and military dictatorship. The documentary includes rare and unpublished files and testimonials from Tom Zé, Rogério Duarte, Orlando Senna, Moraes Moreira and Pepeu Gomes.
Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 7pm
SAMBA'S EVENING / NOITADA DE SAMBA FOCO DE RESISTÊNCIA
(Cély Leal, Brazil, 2010, 75 min. In Portuguese with English subtitles)
"In 1971, under Brazil's military dictatorship, Jorge Coutinho and Leonides Bayer began holding weekly "Samba Evenings" at Teatro Opinião in Rio de Janeiro, importing popular musicians from the suburbs to entertain Rio's elite. Radical in both concept and execution, the series transformed the theater into a symbol of political and cultural resistance over its 617 performances in 13 years.Samba's Evening recounts this history through music, rare footage, and interviews with Alcione, Beth Carvalho, D. Yvone Lara, Eliana Pittman, Elton Medeiros, Gilberto Braga, Martinho da Vila, Maurício Sherman, and others whose stories powerfully evoke the period. - The Museum of Modern Art
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 7pm
ELZA
(Izabel Jaguaribe and Ernesto Baldan, Brazil, 2009, 72 min. In Portuguese with English subtitles)
"A remarkable singer and show woman, Soares was known for uniting traditional samba sounds with modern touches that lent her songs a multi-generational appeal. Elza explores the diversity of her repertoire and presents a series of encounters with renowned Brazilian artists such as Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben Jor, Paulinho da Viola and Maria Bethânia." - Brazilian Festival of Miami
Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 7pm
