8Th BRAZIL FILM FESTIVAL IN TORONTO: A WARM TROPICAL WAVE TAKES OVER TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
By Leila Monteiro Lins
The Brazilian film industry is changing at a fast and furious pace, bringing to the big screen more universal plots and topics, while still keeping a unique tropical taste to its growing number of productions, and the 8Th Brazil Film Fest reflects this by showcasing 11 recent works handpicked by Katia Adler, the executive director of three Brazilian film festivals — in Toronto, Montreal and Paris.
“Our selection for this year brings to Toronto a well crafted psychological thriller; 3 comedies that were big hits at the Brazilian box office; a sweet coming of age gay story — which will be Brazil’s entry for the 2015 Oscars; a documentary about Sebastiao Salgado, one of the most successful and acclaimed photographers of the world; a history film about the suicide of a Brazilian president… I mean, we have a really great range of titles. This may be one of the best festivals we ever had,” said Ms. Adler.
The 8Th BRAZIL FILM FEST is happening from November 27th to November 30th at TIFF Bell Lightbox
November 27th – Thursday
7 pm –Getulio
by Joao Jardim
Brazil | 2014 | 100 min | Biographical Drama
A chronicle of the last days of Getúlio Vargas, president of Brazil in 1954, who killed himself with a bullet to his head after 19 days of political crisis and pressure.
November 28th – Friday
6 pm – Time and the Wind
Brazil | 2013 | 115 min | Drama
An epic drama based on a series of novels written by Brazilian author Erico Verissimo. It follows 150 years of history and rivalry between two families in the extreme South of Brazil, the Terra Cambará and the Amarals.
8:45 pm – Casa Grande or the Ballad of Poor Jean
Brazil | 2014 | 117 min | Colour | Drama
“Precariously balanced social structures maintaining class, race and expectations come crashing down in ‘Casa Grande’, Felipe Barbosa’s well-made feature debut, which dissects a privileged family’s struggle to maintain their lifestyle in an affluent Rio neighborhood.” Variety
November 29th – Saturday
2 pm – My Mom is a Character
Brazil | 2013 | 84 min | Colour | Comedy
Paulo Gustavo is a gay Brazilian comedian who has an unbelievably crazy and funny mother in real life. He wrote the script and plays his mother in My Mom is a Character. This laugh out loud movie was the biggest hit at the box office in Brazil last year.
4:30 pm – Meeting Sebastiao Salgado
Brazil | 2012 | 75 min | Documentary
Part activist, part photographer, but 100% globe trekker, Brazilian economist turned artist Sebastiao Salgado revisits his adventurous career via the images he captured.
6:30 pm – S.O.S. Women Overboard
by Cris D’Amato
Brazil | 2014 | 94 min | Colour | Comedy
Adriana wants her ex-husband back and is ready to sabotage his honeymoon with a TV starlet. An unforgettable romantic comedy with scenes in Rome, Venice and Rio.
9 pm – The Way He Looks
Brazil | 2014 | 95 min | Colour | Drama
A fun and tender story about friendship and the complications of young love. Leo is a blind teenager fed up with his overprotective mother and the bullies at school, who suddenly finds himself falling in love with another guy.
November 30th – Sunday
1:30 pm – Black and White Democracy
by Pedro Asbeg
Brazil | 2014 | 90 min | Documentary
In the mid-1980s, Brazilians were fighting to get back their right to vote after decades of a dictatorship, rock bands were getting in on the act, and the Corinthians Football Club developed into a revolutionary movement for change. They pressured for self-management of their club, and with t-shirts and banners, urged Brazilians to fight for their right to democracy.
3:45 pm — Samba Ladies
by Susanna Lira
Brazil | 2013 | 75 min | Documentary
Samba Ladies exposes samba’s invisible woman-centered foundation. Hard working women were active in samba’s history as composers, organizers, dancers, singers, designers and workers.
5:45 pm – Never Too Old to Meow
Brazil | 2013 | 89 min | Colour | Drama, Psychological Thriller
An old writer opens up her home to a young journalist after returning to literature from an extended break. This dark drama slowly morphs into a compulsive thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
8:00 pm – The Dognapper
by Pedro Amorim
Brazil | 2013 | 121 min | Colour | Comedy
A 30-year-old slacker decides to take action when his girlfriend dumps him and takes their dog with her.
ABOUT BRAZIL FILM FESTIVAL — The Brazil Film Fest is a small and dynamic film festival fully dedicated to showcase Brazilian productions in Toronto. It is produced by Jangada Association, a not for profit organization also behind the Festival du Film Brésilien de Montréal and the Festival du Cinema Brésilien de Paris.
Source: Brazil Film Fest
