Dirty hearts: Japanese immigrants that denied their defeat in WWII
In 1945, the war was over in the Pacific and emperor Hiroito surrended to the Allies. But some Japanese that immigrated to Brazil were certain that […]
Film
Nelson Cavaquinho at home at Mangueira
Samba is not necessarily joyful. Nelson Cavaquinho was one of the great masters of melancholic samba. Death and lack of hope are constant in his […]
Carlos Saldanha, the soul of Rio (the animation film)
Rio, the animation that just took in $40 million on its opening weekend (that is, last weekend) in the USA, after accumulating $168 million in […]
80 years of “Limite”, the best Brazilian silent film
“Limite”, the experimental silent feature that some consider the best film ever made in the country, is celebrating its 80th anniversary. Shot in Mangaratiba, close […]
The Sweet Venom of the Silver Screen: Bruna Surfistinha
by Thaddeus Blanchette* A week before Carnaval, Ana Paula and I had an opportunity to see “Bruna Surfistinha“, the new film by director Marcus Baldini, […]
Wagner Moura, Brazilian cameleon
You may have seen him in Elite Squad (1 and 2) and in a few Globo soap operas. Baiano Wagner Moura is one of the […]
Brazilian music with English subtitles
Ever wondered what these songs are about? Aquarela do Brasil (Zé Carioca in “Saludos, Amigos”, the 1942 Disney movie) Gentileza (Marisa Monte), that makes reference […]
Beloved criminals
Brazilians have a somewhat disturbing tenderness for certain types of criminals. Let me drop some names that will prove my point: Meneghetti, Adhemar de Barros, […]
Brazil and food, a love story
Ten dishes for your delight: Once upon a time, landowners used to invent dietary taboos to convince their slaves that they shouldn’t eat certain things. […]
Orson Welles in Rio's Carnival
This series of images of film director Orson Welles partying (and working) in Rio, in 1942, were published by Life magazine and brought back to […]