MovieChat Forums > Central do Brasil (1998) Discussion > Amazing camerawork!

Amazing camerawork!

posted 18 years ago by dognamedtruman
7 replies | jump to latest

I just saw most of this movie on IFC, and wow! The camera work was brilliant. There was one shot I found particuarly amazing, which was when they got off the bus in the new settlement. The bus pulled into the shot, then the camera moved from the bus to the ticket booth, with a wall in between which divided the bus and the booth. Then here was the best part, the camera moved up to where a man was working on a roof, and continued to pan up to show the entire development. It was all one shot! It was amazing. I used my DVR system to rewind and watch it again.

Oh, this post was kind of for amature film makers, I'd expect the casual reader to have stopped long before this sentance. Sorry if I bored you.

[–] jdralston 18 years ago

I am not a film maker but I quite agree with you. There were many scenes that were so well filmed. That whole countryside set a tone to the movie that fit so well. It was so good in that respect that it almost called attention to itself but that was OK with me; the movie was so strong. Nice observation on that scene; I recall it and what you mean.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Yakuza_Renegade 18 years ago

I'm also an aspiring/amature film maker - and I find that Salles' films have some of the most superb camera work in modern film. I watched Behind the Sun just recently (and recommend it to anyone) and some of the shots are really magnificent and technically challenging, especially one extended 'chase' scene which I still struggle to get my head around!

[–] Tashacat-1 18 years ago

Another great shot was the scene in which the theif runs through the trains trying to escape. The camera actually goes through the train capturing his every step. Very impressive camera work throughout the entire film.

[–] uebetan12 18 years ago

i just ordered a copy of this movie on dvd because of all your praises.hope that you wont disappoint me

[–] JackBluegrass 11 years ago

Yes, Tashacat!

Those images caught my eye right right away. It was brilliantly-staged photography. As we watch that scene, the thief runs toward the camera on the platform on the left side of the train. He darts in the rear door of a car, races toward the front of the car, and exits out the right front door, onto the right platform, and onto the tracks.

It must have been a rapid camera dolly shot from our right to left, but done so smoothly that we see every detail. It was a violent ballet, since the thief would be killed seconds thereafter.

Cinematographer Walter Carvalho captured the violence and beauty of this great story.

[–] getkunal 18 years ago

Hey:
I know the scene you mentioned and know excatly how you felt...amazing camerawork..brilliant direction..