Black Orpheus ( Brazil, 1959 )

Country: Brazil
Direction: Marcel Camus
Starring: Breno Mello, Marpessa Dawn
Language: Portuguese
Year: 1959

This will be the first Brazilian film introduction in FilmBulb, but not the first South American film. We have already discussed films like Maria Full of Grace, Machacha... Black Orpheus is a romantic genre film, based on the Greek mythology- Orpheus and Eurydice.

As legend says Orpheus is the greatest musician. Both Orpheus and Eurydice are happily married. Eurydice is bitten by a snake and dies. Heart-broke Orpheus plays mournful music to which the gods take pity on him and let him to travel underworld. The gods let Orpheus to take Eurydice with him, but under a condition that he shouldn't turn back and see her till they reach the upper world. They travel, with only Orpheus in the upper world turns back in excitement, whereas Eurydice is still not in and so she is lost for ever.

The film doesn't take the entire legend as such, but it is modern version mixed with the Brazilian samba music in the backdrop of the Rio Carnival.

On the eve of the Rio Carnival, Orfeu (Breno Mello) meets Eurydice (Marpessa Dawn). This is love at first sight. Eurydice is visiting her cousin in Orpheus’ neighborhood. Orpheus wants to get rid of his money minded, nagging girlfriend Mira. He finds a sense of warmth with Eurydice, who in turn is followed by a ghost like figure, which she calls Death. In the day of the carnival Mira gets to know about their romantics and tries to assault Eurydice. Followed by the Death and Mira, Eurydice runs for her life in the midst of the carnival. Did their love succeed is the story.

Right from the titles to the end credits it's music all the way. Almost all the characters dance. The story is so simple and because it is visually filmed very well one can watch the film even without subtitles. Even if you are not aware of the Greek legend (as I wasn't), you’ll like this film for its story telling. Towards the end it might be haunting.

The locales of the neighborhood- call it as a ghetto or the Rio suburb looks different. Do people live in such places!. It’s a hilly place, but still near the city. This acts a wonderful and scenic backdrop.

Marpessa Dawn as Eurydice has to be one of beautiful faces that the cinema ever produced. As the film, she is has a innocent looking beautiful face. It's pity that she didn't act in more films. Contrary to the Greek legend there are twists and turns in the film.

Trailer