Grande Otelo

Continuing his four-year research into Orson Welles' 1942 trip to Rio, Rogerio Sganzeria rounds out his trilogy with this Brazilian documentary, an assemblage of interviews, radio programs, film clips, photos, graphic designs, and samba music, combining to explain how Welles lost control of The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) while he was filming It's All True in Brazil. (All Movie Guide)

A documentary about Orson Welles's unfinished three-part film about South America. (imdb)

Orson Welles acted in Brazilian culture and music by deeply researching Brazil's historical geology, consciously completing a legendary cultural mission. Although being turned down by Hollywood producers, he developed a triumphantly accomplished mission in the language domain... (imdb)

A documentary, mostly in color, but with historical photography and pictures in black and white. It marks 100 years of abolition (Abolicao) of slavery in Brazil. It describes the many situations faced by Afro-Brazilians today, and in the past. This is done through archive footage of cultural celebrations, rituals, and interviews with black Brazilians all over the country.

Biography of one of the legendary names in the Samba genre of Brazilian music. Although he could hardly dance or play an instrument, he became one of the main composers of Portela, an important Samba "school" in Rio de Janeiro. (imdb)

With rich and poor united by the same trickery, the film tells a story of conflicts and contrasts at the confluence of the Rio's neighborhood of Leblon and Ipanema. There, face to face, live opposing social categories, with the thread of the memory of a beggar and the curiosity of a student.

Based on the work of Jorge Amado, the film narrates the interrracial love between a rich daughter of a commander and Antonio Balduíno, a black orphan of mount Capa-Negro, in Salvador, protected by the sorcerer Jubiabá.

A rock singer goes to Brazil to shoot a video, but winds up getting kidnapped and turned over to the oversexed owner of a banana plantation. (imdb)

Rich girl travels with her fiancé (a cousin) to the family farm, where they're going to marry. But finds another cousin in love with her who does everything to hamper the wedding. (imdb)

This densely-packed and odd docudrama refers back to Orson Welles' 1942 visit to Brazil to make a movie called "It's All True." Using newsreel footage from that period, re-enactments of his visit, and excerpts from his movies and radio shows, director Rogerio Sganzerla seems to imply that politics intervened in Welles' project, cutting it short...

Palmares is a 17th-century quilombo, a settlement of escaped slaves in northeast Brazil. In 1650, plantation slaves revolt and head for the mountains where they find others led by the aged seer, Acotirene. She anoints one who becomes Ganga Zumba, a legendary king... (imdb)

An important part of Brazilian history, this is the story of Anayde Beiriz - as played by Tania Alves - poetess, journalist, teacher, a revolutionary in her time (the 1920s and 1930s), and known for her sexuality. Her great love for João Dantas triggered the assassination of Joao Pessoa, the Governor of Brazil's Parahyba State. These events were then used politically as pretext for the "Revolution of 1930." (imdb)

The story of Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald, an extremely determined man who intends to build an opera house in the middle of the Peruvian jungle. (imdb)

Fantasy comedy about Brazilian writer Oswald de Andrade, one of the most important icons of Modernism in Brazil. (imdb)

Robinson Crusoe spoof, with touches of Peter Pan. Shipwreck victim lands on a desert island, finds a friendly native and has to fight pirates whose leader is Captain Hook himself. (imdb)

She is a fortune teller, he is a killer on the run. He gives her a ride and an tragic love affair begins. (imdb)

The story revolves around a group of squatters who assaults a film crew during the carnival, and with the equipment stolen, decides to make a film on slum.

An improvisation of poetic art featuring Bressane conversing with Grande Otelo, the star of Chanchada. It is also a total provocation against Brazilian cinema: "Art is conflict, abnormality, to me cinema is eminently erotic". "Viola Chinesa establishes the rhythm of Bressane's later filmed dialogs (ìwith all the eras in my brain"). (KG)

Tonho Tiê really likes to live free, play capoeira and drink in the Mercado Modelo. During Carnival knows Zulmira, a beautiful woman. On Wednesday of ash, day Iansã and Shango, make vows of love and projects of many children. But time passes and Tonio again the womanizer who had always been. Zulmira, daughter of Iansã, does not support the nerve to Tonio, and asks her mother-in-saint to wash his honor with blood

Five friends decide to enjoy Mardi Gras without their wives, leaving them home. But one of the wives doesn't accept this arrangement and tries to get even.

Anthology of scenes from Brazilian musicals of old (1949-1959), focusing on films from the main studio specializing in the genre, Atlântida. (imdb)

Elevator is abducted in order to force a cardinal who was in it to marry a couple in Brazil. (imdb)

In the countryside, the virgin hick Nestor sees a naked model taking pictures and chases her through the fields and village. His father decides to pay for the services of the local prostitute Marli, but Nestor feels repulse for the whore and his father expels him from the village. Nestor travels by foot and hitchhiking and along his journey, he meets several women and try to lose his virginity. (imdb)

Leniza was a famous singer of the past, and is now part of the jury of a talent show television. She remembers all his artistic career, since he was a humble seller of a pharmaceutical company who dreamed of fame on radio's heyday.

Sexy blonde meets a man who calls himself "the king of the pack". He had been told about this relationship by a fortuneteller. (imdb)

Adaptation of the famou anti-slavery legend of Brazilian folklore (imdb)

In Rio de Janeiro, Cassy Jones is a successful seducer, having sex with many women. He becomes tired of this situation, and decides to find the woman of his life. When he sees the young Clara in a TV shows, he falls in love for her. But sooner, he becomes disappointed with their relationship, and leaves Clara. He misses her, while she follows the career of star in the show business with his former friend Rouboult. (imdb)

The adventures of a man of many women and jobs. (imdb)

A dysfunctional family, composed of a prostitute and two gays, one strong and the other fragile and stupid, lives a routine life in Rio de Janeiro. When the slut threatens the other two to stop supporting them, they decide to find an odalisque as an alternative to keep their easy life. (imdb)

An allegory about Brazil's history and the struggle for power since the 1930 Revolution until the advent of the TV. (imdb)

Bums find $15,000 in trash, but the money belonged to criminals.

The Amaro Silva colonel, livestock farmer, owns a large farm nna city of Don Pedrito. His son Aparicio is the foreman of the farm, having as his assistant the Tonic black boy, Colonel godson. One day, there arises a new neighbor: Dr. Azevedo, who just bought vast lands. With him comes his daughter Aurora. One day she and Aparicio are in this land and start a romance. (imdb)

Our story begins with Macunaima's miraculous birth to an old woman in a tiny jungle settlement. Born full grown, he discovers his life's purpose which leads him and his family/followers on a journey to the Big City. On the way, more miracles occur, but Macunaima still has the heart and mind of a child. In the Big City, he is co-opted by terrorists who enlist him in their revolutionary schemes. In the Big City he learns that nuts are not always food and other hilarious lessons of life. (imdb)

Eleven small stories, loving chronicles about Rio de Janeiro and its people, written by some of the best Brazilian writers of the time. (imdb)

The gang composed by small-time thieves from the slum and leaded by the criminal Tião Medonho (Eliezer Gomes) plans and successfully executes the robbery of the train with the payments of the Banco do Brasil ("Bank of Brazil"). The police has no leads and believes that the heist was committed by an international gang. Meanwhile, Tiao imposes that each outlaw can only spend 10% of the share, but the poor reality and the greed of most of them spoil the planning. (imdb)

Professor Inacius Isidorius finishes to launch a rocket manned for a monkey successfully in orbit around the Land. After this, he wants send two men to the Moon, before the Americans or the Russians. But, there are a problem: this men must be useless and completely unnecessary people.

A couple form Brasilia's show business and a duet from Rio de Janeiro try to open a nightclub in Rio but have to face many difficulties due to the scrooges in show business field.

Young man participates in TV contests to help the girl he loves using the money he expects to win. (imdb)

Januário is a crook who sells inexistent tombs on Caju Cemetery and pretends to be a relative of Juscelino Kubitschek's, then president of Brazil. (imdb)

Living at the peaceful small town of Desterro, pharmacist Aristides and photographer Bronco get distressed when it becomes the target of the attack of dangerous criminals. (imdb)

A rogue tries to seduce a wealthy widow wanting her to sponsor the show for a group of artists abandoned by a shady businessman

Comedy about two bookies who find a police investigator who gets a split personality after receiving a blow to the head.

A couple of scoundrels rent a huge house to move closer to the high society and steal the jewels for a hysterical big man.

A talented songwriter of sambas is forced to face the social injustices of the city around him. (imdb)

Manicurist finds out she's the daughter of a rich baroness, and inherits her fortune. Now, she'll have to fight her mother's parents, with help from some of her friends. (imdb)

Petrônio and Cabeleira are two crazy owners stocking a living breaking. They will have to find money for a delicate operation sister of Petronius. To participate in this film whose star is being threatened with death by "unknown heartthrob".

Tired of the court, the prince of Araquelândia mistaken identity with a strawman double to appreciate the carnival of Rio de Janeiro next to his butler. While the real falls in revelry, the false prince runs into trouble with the political problems of the foreign country, including a corrupt ambassador and a terrorist

Zé da Bomba dreams of being rich, and his neighbour dreams of being an artist and having an affair with him. (imdb)

"High Noon" spoof. Kid Bolha and Ciscocada, two clumsy swindlers, arrive at a violent Old West town called Citydown where, by mistake, one of them is appointed Sheriff. They're intent on facing the dreaded Jesse Gordon, a gunman who kills for pleasure. (imdb)

The mishaps of a couple of itinerant artists, Tonico and Tião, who go around Brazil searching for fame and fortune. The duo's trip is marred by difficult and funny situations, especially when Tião starts to feel neglected by his partner. (imdb)

The famous Brazilian producer Cecílio B. De Milho (Renato Restier) wants to produce an epic about Helen of Troy. He hires the great professor of Greek history Xenofontes (Oscarito) to write the screenplay, but his family and crew wants to make a Brazilian musical comedy. Meanwhile, a fake count wants to marry his nephew to be the lead actor of Helen of Troy. (imdb)

The bumbling Barnabas accidentally stamps one of his hands with the Star of David. Interestingly, the symbol was the mark of the sixth heir of Solomon, who has been missing and is wanted by the princess Zulema, whose courtroom is installed in the middle of Rio de Janeiro. In the confusion, Barnabas is forced to marry Zulema. The problem is that, according to tradition, he who marries a princess must be beheaded soon after the wedding night. Only Abdullah can save Barnabas.

Intent on offering his fiancée a better life, countryman heads for Rio de Janeiro in search of a place in the sun. With no contacts in the big city, he gets involved with the crime underworld connected with illegal betting. (imdb)

In Buenos Aires, Frederico hides in a ship going to Rio de Janeiro to travel for free. But Azulão, the cook, finds him and blackmails him into working in the kitchen. Meanwhile, Alberto, the captain, receives a radio message saying that there was a dangerous international spy on board. Things get worse when some passports are mixed-up. (imdb)

A gang, leaded by the unknown and mysterious Anjo (angel in Portuguese), robs a jewelry and schedules a meeting in the Copacabana Palace Hotel, in Copacabana. The identification would be through a cigarette case with an angel, and the password "- Is everything all right?" Meanwhile, the director Ricardo is preparing a show for the carnival in the hotel with Marina, and they love each other... (imdb)

Oscar and Osmar are twins, but they don't know each other. The first one is poor, the other one, a successful banker. When Osmar goes missing, Oscar replaces his brother, instructed by the secretary of the company. (meucinemabrasileiro.com)

Roberto is a blind pianist who meets a black boy which becomes his guide. Together they will try to regain the love of Roberto's former girlfriend.