Premiere Brazil Takes on New York

A sidebar of Festival do Rio, Premiere Brazil opened this past weekend at MoMA and runs through the July 28th. The sixth annual contemporary film festival features the world premiere of director Lirio Ferreira’s The Man Who Bottled Clouds, an intimate look at the life and work of Humberto Teixeira, the legendary songwriter, lawyer and congressman who wrote many Brazilian classics including “Asa Branca (White Wing)” and introduced a steadily industrialized country to the folk like sounds of Baiao -- the accordion-based music of north eastern Brazil. In writing over 400 songs, his music has been recorded by a myriad of talent from Forro in the Dark to Pink Martini. The film beautifully captures his life in Rio during the 1940’s via archived footage and insightful interviews with of a host of personalities and features musical performances by Gilberto Gil and David Byrne. Another highlight of the festival is Estomago (A Gastronomic Story), directed by Marcos Jorge, an allegorical fable which looks at ambition and survival through the lead characters’ alternative mode to moving ahead: cooking. His potent mixing of food, sex and betrayal makes for a nimble and smart tale. “We’re talking about low gastronomy not haute cuisine. It’s the first Brazilian film to play on this theme,” says director Jorge. Eight other equally stellar entries complete this year’s line up. Lest we forget, it was the Festival do Rio that introduced City of God and Central Station to American audiences.

On the eve of the opening night I met up with MoMA film curator Jytte Jensen and Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival director Ilda Santiago. Between sips of caipirinhas, I asked the two about Brazilian film and this year's festival.

Phil Smrek: Now that Premiere Brazil is in its sixth year, what’s its effect been on US audiences?

Ilda Santiago: There’s a loyal audience coming to see this program every year so that in and of itself illustrates the potential for Brazilian films in the US market. Also, by bringing a delegation of Brazilian producers, directors and actors to New York each year we’re building relationships and opportunities not only for these films but for future projects.

PS: Is there a distinctive quality or characteristic to Brazilian films?

Jytte Jensen: What distinguishes Brazilian films is that they are so utterly Brazilian. They completely communicate outside their own language, outside their own culture and environment but at the same time they’re completely rooted in their culture and environment and I think that makes for beautiful films

PS: How do you feel about their presence in the US film market?

JJ: I get angry and energized. Angry that these film aren’t seen by a wider audience. Energized to do something about it. We hope by showing them at MoMA we’ll get the word of mouth started and have people tell each other about these wonderful films.

PS: Are there plans to hold Premiere Brazil in other cities?

IS: As a matter of fact yes, Berlin in ’09 and London at the end of this year.

For a comprehensive screening schedule visit http://www.moma.org/.

Pictured above (from left to right), David Byrne in The Man Who Bottled Clouds and a scene from Estomago (A Gastronomic Story)