Brazilian Film - Cidade Baixa (2005) Discussion

[–] fabulous8787 18 years ago

Hey. I am also a huge fan of Brazilian films. I recommend watching:

1) Carandiru
2) The Middle of the World
3) Man of the Year

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[–] fudgepax261 18 years ago

bus 17 something was a great documentary

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[–] wel2005 18 years ago

Central Statins (Walter Salles), Foreign Land (WAlter Salles). Cinema, Aspirins ans Vultures (Marcelo Gomes)

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[–] rb7azreal 18 years ago

Man of the Year
Carandiru
Domesticas
4 days in September
Pixote
Bicho de 7 cabecas

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[–] 9927719 18 years ago

Thanks for the suggestions.

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[–] spicy_demon 18 years ago

How can you all fail to mention the brilliant 'Behind The Sun'?

It's also a Brazilian film by Walter Salles and is about two families blood-fued and how it is destroying the younger generations.

It is the best Brazilian film in my opinion and is even better than City Of God as it is more touching and has a heart-breaking ending.

Also I didn't think Man Of the Year was particularly great as it's basically Scarface in a different language if you think about it...

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[–] bcryka 18 years ago

a film i really enjoyed is 'o homem que copiava'(the man who copied) which is a little less intense than city of god or carandiru, and a bit more upbeat than behind the sun. i highly recommend it

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[–] spicy_demon 18 years ago

what's the plot and who stars in it?

I like seeing new foreign films no-one has heard of!

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[–] bcryka 18 years ago

"Comic strip fantasy and glum working day reality mix in this unusual Brazilian film. André (Lázaro Ramos) works making photocopies at a stationary store, shooting the breeze with his sexy co-worker Marinês (Luana Piovani) and spending his nights drawing comics and spying on neighborhood good girl Sylvia (Leandra Leal). He's too shy and poor to ask Sylvia out, until he hits on the idea of making counterfeit money with the color copier after business hours. Cardoso (Pedro Cardoso), the equally poor, would-be lover of Marinês helps with the scam..."

i'd give you more (and there is a whole lot more) but it might spoil it. anyways, it's fairly easy to find and rent/buy at the normal places

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[–] simurai 17 years ago

This is my favourite Brazillian film. It's got some pretty heavy themes, but it's tackled in a really upbeat, humorous manner. And the story is just bizarre twist after bizarre twist. Right up my alley. It's a shame I can't find it anywhere here in Australia.

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[–] Adry19 18 years ago

Me, You, Them (excellent w/ great music)
Central Do Brasil (Central Station)

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[–] georgiamorgan 18 years ago

I also recommend "The other side of the street"

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[–] Raksha_Keller 18 years ago

I think that The Man Of The Year is one Brazillian film everyone should watch. Its exquistely acted out and the story and direction are awesome.

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[–] spicy_demon 18 years ago

I didn't think Man Of the Year was particularly great as it's basically Scarface in a different language if you think about it...

Plus it often features violence for violences sake and doesn't have half the heart city of god or behind the sun has!

SEE BEHIND THE SUN!

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[–] Nuestro 18 years ago

don't forget to try something from Jorfe Furtado... some of the shorts also, such as "A Ilha das Flores" , "O Dia em que Dorival...", etc

"O Homem que copiava" for example, great popcorn movie... like hollywood wished they could deliver :P

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[–] donbrown-1 18 years ago

Love strange love 1982

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[–] sukiyaki8 18 years ago

i did not enjoy 'lower city' that much.
'city of god' probably the best brazilian movie i've ever watched.
i like 'the man who copied' and 'loves possible'
a friend in brazil suggested this one http://imdb.com/title/tt0271383/, but i couldn't find it here in US

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[–] wel2005 17 years ago

"House of Sand" is in cinemas now. You can get more informations in this site. Also "Macunaima", a movie from sixties. "2 Filhos de Francisco", by Breno Silveira. Next year opens "Antonia", "o Ano Em que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias" and "O Céu de Suely". There is an mexican-brazilian movie: "Solo Dios Sabe". "City of Men - the Movie", by Nando Olival, produced by Fernando Meirelles. Brasil makes about 50 movies a year but few go to other markets. It's a pitty.

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[–] TheV5 17 years ago

I've seen only a few Beazilian films:

Lower City - Not a bad film, but I wouldn't really rush to see it again.

City of God - A good film, and seen it to many times. Would still watch it though.

Man of the Year - Not the best film in the world but I quite like it and have seen it a couple of times.

Central Station - I thought this was very good. Not really a film for repeat viewing, but worth a watch once or twice.

Bus 174 (Docu-drama!) - Quite a good docu to watch. But like most docu's, Once you've seen it, you've seen it.

City of Men (TV Series) - A good TV series in the same vain as City of God. At the end of the day I think I enjoyed this more than City of God. A close run thing though!

Thats all I've seen, but would like to see more and will have a look into the films mentioned above.

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[–] mckrainin2 17 years ago

Central Station - I thought this was very good. Not really a film for repeat viewing, but worth a watch once or twice<<

to each his own. I found the violence of City of God very off putting. I have the vhs of Cnetral station and I'm sure I've watched it a dozen times. I love the characters, the story, the up close face shots, the haunting music , the countryside, the cinenamatography. The acting is superaltive...academy award nomination for female lead. Indeed I have LOTS of movies and this certainly is in my top ten favorite movies. If you haven't seen it.RENT it. its very worth the time and money.
Jk

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[–] biskvito 17 years ago

There are lots of new movies coming out this year... All my life I lived in Brazil I never saw so many national movies on theaters... I hope theres some good pieces there

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[–] lebeke1 17 years ago

That's the thing about Brazilian films, they're so realistic and down to earth. There's never a 'good' ending, where the knight saves the princess. If anything, many films are plagued with tragedy and drama. My reason why i love Brazilian cinema.

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[–] xroughdraftx 17 years ago

I agree. And Central Station is definitely one of my favourite films, regardless of the fact it's Brazilian. I also enjoyed Amarelo Manga [Mango Yellow]

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[–] eatmepapi 17 years ago

I know it was mentioned before but PIXOTE was the closest thing and utilized "real" actors as well. In fact,the lead actor was killed in a stand-off with Brazilian police not so long ago. It's time span isn't as expansive as City of God and it'solder, but the same themes of desperation and dignity in the favela of horror remain.

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[–] dynamoprincess 17 years ago

Has no one mentioned 'madame Sata' -with lazaro ramos?

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[–] Loviwall 17 years ago

house of sand was great!

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[–] dinosaurs-will_die 17 years ago

How come no-one mentioned Amores Perros.
It's an absolutely fantastic film.
It's not in chronological order, much like Pulp Fiction, but it's much better than that.
I loved it and highly recommend it.

'Tis a tearjerker in parts also.

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[–] verweigert 17 years ago

No one mentioned it because it's not a Brazilian movie!

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[–] cajado 16 years ago

Ok, Here it goes some other good movies:

Caixa Dois - light comedy with funny end, actual
O Coronel e o Lobisomem - Nordeast Stories, Funny fantasy drama 1900
Cafundó - History of a Brazilian Schaman - Historical Drama 1900
O Ano em que meus pais sairam de Ferias - Drama in the 70's
Pacto de Sangue - Drama in the 70's
Tropa de Elite - Favela Movie/Action/Drama - Violent actual
O Ceu de Suely - Road Movie - Drama Actual
Oscar Nyemayer: A Vida é um Sopro - Documentary/Architeture/Life

(If you watch in this order you'll better understand the events)

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[–] marciosantos2000 16 years ago

- "Tropa de Elite" (Elite Squad) was a blockbuster here in Brazil in 2007. This movie wasn't only a great hit of the big screen, but provoked debates around Police violence through the streets, on TV and press and at governamental levels. I could say "Tropa de Elite" made more sucess in Brazil than "City of God" when it was released in 2002. I strongly recommend this movie. Please, read more about "Tropa de Elite" at this IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0861739/

-On the other hand, I love Walter Salles's "Central Station", nominee for best picture on a foreign language in 1999. The plot, the direction, the soundtrack and, of course, the wonderful actors make of this film a masterpiece. Fernanda Montenegro (nominee for best actress that year - the Oscar went to Gwyneth Paltrow for "Shakeaspeare in Love") is the great dame of Brazilian theater and certainly the best Brazilian actress ever! And what about the "duel" of the boy Vinicius de Oliveira (Josué) and Fernanda (Dora)? A must see!
"Central Station" at IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0140888/

-"Filhas do Vento" (2005) a nice movie with the gorgeous and good actress Taís Araújo. Taís made some international fame because of her title role in "Xica", the queen-slave, a very successful soap aired in the US on Telemundo and Azteca America and many Latin America countries. This movie tells a story of two black sisters of the country-side and the their different they have to do in their lives.
See more at the IMDB link:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422238/

-"Hoje é dia de Maria" (2005), something like "Today is Mary's Day". It's a poetic story with the great Fernanda Montenegro (again!) and the Brazilian Hollywood star Rodrigo Santoro ("Behind the Sun", "Brainstorm", "Love Actually", "Lost", Xerxes in "300"). The little girl Carolina Oliveira deserves a look - she was nominne for the Emmy award for her work as Maria. In fact this was made for TV, but it's already available on DVD.
More at IMDB link:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0447589/

- "O Invasor" (The Trespasser/The Invader) (2002) - City of God, Carandiru and Tropa de Elite fans would certain like Beto Brant's best film too.
Go to the IMDB link and read more:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303408/

Finally, I recommed a glance at Brazilian bet on Oscar 2008:
-"O Ano Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias" (The Year My Parents Went on Vacation).
Tells a story of a 10 year-old jewish boy that think his parents are on vacation, in 1970. However, they are out because are leftist activists and fight against the tough military dictatorship then. On the other hand, the year of 1970 is the same Brazil wonderful soccer team won his third Word Cup in Mexico, with the magic of the genius Pelé. In this kind of scenary, the little boy has to live his own life in a world full of surprises and discoveries.
The boy Michel Joelsas, like Vinicius de Oliveira in "Central Station" is a finding of the director and is absolutely wonderful in this small masterpiece. Brazilian movie at Berlin Bear Festival in 2007. I also strongly recommend it!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0857355/

Dear friends, it's all. I hope you enjoy my suggestions of the god and newer Brazilian cinema.
Márcio, Brazil.

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