"Black Orpheus" (1959)
"Black Orpheus" (1959) is an Afro-Brazilian film adapted from "Orfeu da Conceição" by Vinicius de Moraes, which takes on the Greek Mythology love story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Marcel Camus directed the movie, and Camus and Jacques Viot were responsible for writing the screenplay. Camus shot the movie in the favelas in Rio de Janeiro during the carnival as the film's setting, which starred American-born actress Marpessa Dawn and Brazilian native Breno Mello. Additional actors include Lourdes de Oliveira, Léa Garcia, Adhemar Ferreira da Silva, and Waldemar De Souza.
"Black Orpheus" won the Palme d'Or at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival, the 1960 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and the 1960 Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film. "Black Orpheus" introduced a worldwide audience to Afro-Brazilian culture that was mainly unheard to people outside of the Caribbean and South America. The cinematography throughout the movie exemplifies the illustrious colors and culture of the Afro-Brazillian community. The music was one of the most notable aspects in which Brazilian composers Luiz Bonfá and Antônio Carlos Jobim were responsible for the soundtrack.
There is much to unpack from this movie as there is much to gain from it instead of just being a romantic tragedy. For example, the cultural layer of Afro-Brazilians expands into the spiritual realm towards the movie's end. In addition, there are many symbolic representations from the Greek tragedy and how Camus translated them to contemporary Rio. Also, Eurydice's relationship with Mira and Death was metaphorically different but still similar as they both tried to kill her.
One can learn about the Greek tragedy by following the movie, but it helps to gain deeper meaning behind each scene if you have some knowledge of the play. The film is in Portuguese and gives an authentic vibe. However, while the movie gained much praise, there was still criticism behind the representation and stereotypes portrayed about Afro-Brazilians. The objection is understandable because similar critiques existed for Black American-themed films too.
Director: Marcel Camus
Writers: Marcel Camus, Jacques Viot, Vinicius de Moraes
Starring Breno Mello, Marpessa Dawn, Lourdes de Oliveira, Léa Garcia, Adhemar Ferreira da Silva, Waldemar De Souza, Alexandro Constantino, Jorge Dos Santos, Aurino Cassiano
Storyline
In the heady atmosphere of Rio's carnival, two people meet and fall in love. Eurydice, a country girl, has run away from home to avoid a man who arrived at her looking for her. She is convinced that he is going to kill her. She comes to Rio to stay with her cousin Serafina. Orfeo works as a tram conductor and is engaged to Mira - as far as Mira is concerned, anyways. As Eurydice and Orpheus get to know one another, they fall deeply in love. Mira is jealous, and when Eurydice disappears, Orfeo sets out to find her.
Available on Blu-ray and streaming services.
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