Cartola: The Samba Legend

The historical, political, and social context of Brazil in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, and the impact of each decade on the life and work of the acclaimed actress Marília Pêra.

A Brazilian theatre group that through talent, irony and humour confronted the Brazilian violent dictatorship in the 1970s revolutionising the gay movement worldwide and changing theatre and dance language to an entire generation.

A record of the career and immense contribution of journalist and writer Mario Filho to the development of football in Brazil. Through a poetic and innovative approach, his columns captured the collective passion for the "British sport."

Non-communication can emerge through different ways, whether by conflict, language, or culture. In Giuliano Robert's film it happens through the interference of speech: a hearing mother describes the beginning of a communication process with her deaf son. Based on the mother's experiences, Márcia, the documentary is conducted by her son, Giuliano, in search of a connection with a culture which, through lack of information and access, silences other modes of communication.

Documentary about João Nogueira, popular singer and composer from Rio de Janeiro

This film shines a light at the story of Jards Macalé, polemic artist and controversial character of Brazilian culture over the last four decades. Author of songs such as "Vapor Barato" and "Movimento dos Barcos", a partner in crime of poet Waly Salomão, guitar player and songwriter for Gal Costa and Caetano Veloso, actor and author of soundtracks in Nelson Pereira dos Santos' films, a personal friend of visual artists Lygia Clarke and Hélio Oiticica, but, first and foremost, someone who dreams of seeing the word "love" in the Brazilian flag.

The 80th birthday of Erasmo Carlos, pioneer of Brazilian rock, in never-before-seen images: the Tijuca gang, Jovem Guarda, international success, Roberto Carlos and his influence on behavior.

A documentary on the influence that carnival has on the daily life of the Mangueira hill in Rio de Janeiro. It follows the manufacture of the carnivals of 1981 and 1982, interviewing several residents who tell the story of more than half a century of the favela's existence and emphasizing its community importance and cultural, to the sound of the most beautiful sambas composed on Mangueira.

Evandro Teixeira is one of the leading names in world photojournalism, with a career spanning more than 37 years in the Brazilian press. Baiano from Jequié, chose Rio de Janeiro to settle down and it was in Jornal do Brasil that he spent most of his career. In addition to an untiring photographic reporter, he also traveled to Brazil to search for images of Brazilians and recorded important events in the history of Brazil and the world, in coverage of national and international events.

The documentary will reveal parallel narratives that present the life of the cartoonist and activist, Henrique de Souza. The film explores a movement of discovery of the character next to the young people from a class of animators who tries to bring the work of Henfil to the present days. In addition to the findings from friends' testimonies, revelations about how the artist used his drawings as a device to "dribble" political censorship and also as a resource for dealing with his fragile health, caused by hemophilia, and expose your creative restlessness.

Even with all the brutality in the Brazilian dictatorial period, many artists presented themselves as a resistance, using their talent and creativity as a way to trick the censorship.

In a time of timeless and revolutionary talents, Wilson Simonal shined as nobody before and innovated as only a few could. All of a sudden, everything vanished. This film maps the spectacular trajectory of the ex-Army corporal that ruled as a monarch, and was condemned to ostracism for an offense to which he pleaded not guilty.

Orfeu is a popular composer from a samba school. He lives in the favela and falls madly in love when he meets Euridice, a newcomer to the neighborhood. But the local drug boss Lucinho stands between them and will drastically change both their lives.

"Portraits and excerpts from Brazilian films from all times. Actors, directors and images that affirm cinema."

Documentary about Marcel Camus' 1959 film Black Orpheus, its cultural and musical roots, and its resonance in Brazil today.

Samba on Your Feet explores the shared roots of Carnival and Samba in Brazil and how they’ve come together to form a unique and vibrant culture. The journey begins behind the scenes of Rio de Janeiro’s Samba schools. Here, we witness the hard work and dedication of choreographers, dancers, musicians, and costume makers coming together in the spirit of teamwork and collaboration to create a spectacle that celebrates the infectious rhythms of Samba. The camera of Montes-Bradley also explores nearby favelas, where the audience discovers more links between Carnival and Samba and learns about the cultural history linking both to common African traditions. Cultural historian Haroldo Costa is our host on this pilgrimage to the roots, illuminating the importance of Samba in Brazilian culture and explaining its influences on Carnival.

A panorama of the Brazilian black experience, starting with the figure of the semi-illiterate popular artist and employee of a salt mine Gabriel Joaquim dos Santos.

Conducted from interviews with personalities who lived with Leila Diniz (1945-1972), the documentary is a record of an era and, above all, it rescues the participation in Brazilian culture of the actress who opened the way for the sexual revolution during the dark years of the dictatorship.

The story follows important moments in the life of Angenor de Oliveira, known as Cartola. From his childhood in middle-class neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro to his move to Morro da Mangueira, passing through his complicated family relationships and his first compositions.

After being collected from the dressing room of the Candomblé center, Ana shares her desires, memories, dreams, and reflections with the viewer through a diary.

Nelson Cavaquinho as seen by Ruy Solberg.

Biographical portrait of samba dancer Nelson Sargento in Morro da Mangueira, Rio de Janeiro.

Follows the story of Opinião, a theatre group created in 1964 during the early Brazilian dictatorship period to oppose the government through artistic performances. Considered the first left-wing response to the dictatorship, the group gathered now famous Brazilian artists such as Nara Leão, Maria Bethânia, João do Vale and Millôr Fernandes.

Portrait of various figures in Brazilian pop music.

Documentary addressing the composer Cartola and the transformations that took place in Morro Carioca and in Samba during his life. Founder of the Escola de Samba Estação Primeira de Mangueira, Cartola has his life and his music marked by his community and his School, far from the city His school, created as a playful and expressive center for the mangueirense, has now become a point of tourist attraction. This made work possible for the inhabitants of the hill, but it transformed the spirit of samba and its aesthetics.

Young lovers Orfeu and Eurydice run through the favelas of Rio during Carnaval, on the lam from a hitman dressed like Death and Orfeu's vengeful fiancée Mira and passing between moments of fantasy and stark reality. This impressionistic retelling of the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice introduced bossa nova to the world with its soundtrack by young Brazilian composers Luiz Bonfá and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

The story of the first steps of a very young couple. Their love is great, as are the financial obstacles and an unexpected pregnancy.

On December 31st 1999, destiny brings a fugitive prisoner and a depressed middle class teacher together, as the new millennium approaches bringing hope to everyone.