Brazzil
June 2001
Culture Pulse
Plays, movies &
best-seller books
PLAYS
RIO
Da Arte de Subir em Telhados (The Art of Escalating Roofs)—A group of friends reminisce about good and bad times. The setting of the play has been praised by the Brazilian media. Written by Paulo de Moraes and Maurício Arruda Mendonça, directed by Paulo de Moraes, with Patrícia Selonk and Simone Mazzer.
Crimes Delicados (Delicate Crimes)—A couple will not stop at anything to kill their woman servant. Written by José Antônio de Souza, directed by Antônio Abujamra, with Nicette Bruno, Paulo Goulart and Bárbara Bruno Goulart.
Doido Varrido (Stark Crazy)—A stressed actor takes refuge in a resting clinic. There he meets his superego—interpreted by Mary Sheila—with whom he stages heated discussions. Written and interpreted by Duda Ribeiro, directed by Ernesto Piccolo.
Esperando Beckett (Waiting for Beckett)—Monologue based in several Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) texts. Marília Gabriela, a famous TV anchor in real life, is a journalist who almost suffers a nervous breakdown while waiting to interview British playwright Becket. Created and directed by Gerald Thomas.
Mais que Imperfeito (More than Imperfect)—Couple discuss their own behavior. Second part of a trilogy started by E Aí, Comeu? (How was it? Did you screw her?), by Marcelo Rubens Paiva, in which men commented on women's behavior. With Clara Garcia, Ingra Liberato, Tato Gabus Mendes, and Antônio Gonzalez.
Qualquer Gato Vira-Lata Tem uma Vida Sexual Mais Sadia Que a Nossa (Any Stray Cat Has a Healthier Sexual Life than Ours)—Girl asks a scientist to help her get back her fiancé. Written by Juca de Oliveira, directed by Bibi Ferreira, with Rita Guedes, Roger Gobeth and Marcos Pasquim.
SÃO PAULO
Eles Preferem as Loiras (They Prefer Blondes)—Comedy. Monologue in which Maria Antonia, an unhappy and lonely black woman, has a radical change of life when an odd disease makes her skin white. As a blonde she wins a beauty contest, know success and gets two lovers. Written by Zezeh Barbosa and Betina Boop. Zezeh Barbosa interprets Maria Antônia, the play's heroine. Directed by Ângela Barros.
Masterclass—Tratado Geral da Comédia (Masterclass—General Treaty of Comedy)—A scholar talks about comedy theory when he is interrupted by characters from other comedies and a stage hand who becomes furious. Written by Luis Alberto de Abreu, directed by Ednaldo Freire, with Fraternal Companhia de Artes e Malas-Artes theater troupe.
7 Dias em 2000 (Seven Days in 2000)—Comedy. A grandmother is caught by surprise by the arrival of her young granddaughter who was sent away from home because the parents were having money troubles after overextending their credit card limits. Written and directed by Jair Alves, with Javert Monteiro, Beatriz Campos and Theodora Ribeiro.
Ovelhas Negras (Black Sheep)—Based in texts written by writer Caio Fernando Abreu who died from AIDS in 1996. The play portrays an artist who finds to be HIV positive. Directed by Pedro Cardillo and Claudia Schapira, with César Guiraro and Eduardo Estrela.
Pavilhão 5 (Pavilion No. 5)—A teacher becomes involved in a rebellion inside a reformatory for youngsters when she is visiting her student who was detained. Written and directed by Reinaldo Maia, with Gisele Valeri and Fernando Paz.
Cambaio (Bow-legged)—Musical telling the story of two men (one a pop star, the other a numbers runner) who fall in love for the same woman. Show Written and directed by João and Adriana Falcão with songs by Chico Buarque and Edu Lobo, and musical direction by Lenine.
Duas Mulheres e um Cadáver (Two Women and a Corpse)—First play by best-selling writer Patrícia Melo. The two women from the title are the wife and the lover of a murdered psychoanalyst. They have a love-hate relationship. With Débora Bloch, Fernanda Torres and Ricardo Pavão.
Antes Só do que Mal Acompanhado (Better Alone than in Bad Company)—Written and directed by Cláudio Carneiro. A group of actors talks about the human condition and several human feeling like fear, greed and love. By the theatrical troupe Doutores da Alegria.
Esta Noite Ouvirei Chopin (Tonight I Will Listen to Chopin) by Sérgio Pires directed by Rodolfo David. Author Pires interprets Dalva, a transvestite who gets into the stage when he hears he is very ill.
Getsemani—Tragicomedy by Mário Bortolotto who also directs. Bortolotto, is a prize-winner of the APCA-2000 for life achievement. A story of cultural terrorism. Four men kidnap an editor to force to publish literature they deem decent. With the group Cemitério de Automóveis and singer-composer Carlos Careqa.
MOVIES
Just-released American movies:
Almost Famous (Quase Famosos), Along Came a Spider (Na Teia da Aranha), Blow (Profissão de Risco), Chicken Run (A Fuga das Galinhas), Exit Wounds (Rede de Corrupção) Miss Congeniality (Miss Simpatia), Pearl Harbor (Pearl Harbor), Pollock (Pollock), Shrek (Shrek), Snatch (Snatch _ Porcos e Diamantes), Someone Like You (Alguém como Você), Someone Like You (Alguém como Você), State and Main (Deu a Louca nos Astros), The Limey (O Estranho), The House of Mirth (A Essência da Paixão), The Mummy Returns (O Retorno da Múmia), Things You Can Tell Just Looking at Her (Coisas que Você Pode Dizer Só de Olhar Para Ela), Valentine (O Dia do Terror) Vatel (Vatel _ Um Banquete para o Rei), What Women Want (Do que as Mulheres Gostam)
A Partilha (The Partition)—Brazil/2001—Dramatic comedy. Four sisters fight for the money left by their mother who owned an apartment in Copacabana. Only of one them has taken of mom during a long disease. Directed by Daniel Filho, with Glória Pires, Andréa Beltrão, Lilia Cabral and Paloma Duarte. Adaptation of a play by Miguel Falabella.
O Sonho de Rose, 10 Anos Depois (Rose's Dream, 10 Years Later)—Brazil/2000—Documentary. By Tetê Moraes. The director, in 1987, filmed the story of Roseli da Silva, who with many other families had occupied the Annoni farm in Rio Grande do Sul. This new movie shows the family da Silva, after the matriarch's death. They lost their lot and moved to a city close to the farm.
Bicho de Sete Cabeças (Seven-Head Beast or Puzzle)—Brazil/Switzerland/Italy/2000—Drama. A rebel student is sent to a mental institution by his father when he starts smoking pot and tagging walls. Based on autobiographical Canto dos Malditos, a book by Austregésilo Carrano Bueno. Directed by Laís Bodanzky with Rodrigo Santoro, Othon Bastos, Cássia Kiss, Gero Camilo, Altair Lima and Caco Ciocler.
Tônica Dominante (Main Theme)—Brazil/2001—Drama. Three days in the life of a young musician. Written and directed by Lina Chamie, with Vera Zimmermann, Carlos Gregório, Vera Holtz, Sérgio Mamberti, Walderez de Barros and Carlos Moreno.
A Hora Marcada (Scheduled Time)—Brazil, 2000—Thriller. During a party a bank owner hears from a mysterious woman that tells him the day he will die seven years later. When the day arrives he is kidnapped by his worst enemy, someone who wants to see him dead. By Marcelo Taranto, with Gracindo Júnior and Osmar Prado.
Minha Vida em Suas Mãos (My Life in Your Hands)—Brazil/2000—Police action. College professor is kidnapped and raped by a young and pretty robber. The victim falls in love with her torturer, calls the police on him and then apologizes and decides to live with the bandit when he escapes from prison. With Caco Ciocler and Maria Zilda Bethlem. Also in the cast: Ney Latorraca, Imara Reis, Roberto Bonfim, Cristina Aché and Stepan Nercessian.
Amores Possíveis (Possible Loves)—Brazil/2000—Romantic comedy by Sandra Werneck. Once again the director deals with heartbreaks telling three different love stories but interchangeable between the characters. It all starts when Carlos waits for his sweetheart at the movie theater. He ends up meeting Júlia. Fifteen years later Carlos has become a successful lawyer and unhappy husband, or a gay, or a chronic bachelor still looking for the ideal woman. With Murilo Benício, Carolina Ferraz, Beth Goulart, Emílio de Mello, Irene Ravache and Alberto Szafran.
Senta a Pua! (Hit Them Hard)—Brazil/1999—Documentary about Brazil's participation in the Second World War. Twenty three former combatants—pilots and plane mechanics—tell their exciting war stories. By Erik de Castro.
BEST-SELLER BOOKS
FICTION
1 As mentiras que os homens contam, Luis Fernando Verissimo. Objetiva, R$ 16,90
2 Comédias para se ler na escola, Luis Fernando Verissimo. Objetiva, R$ 16
3 Secreções, excreções e desatinos, Rubem Fonseca. Companhia das Letras, 21
4 Ninguém é de ninguém, Zíbia Gasparetto. Espaço Vida e Consciência, R$ 22
5 Retrato em Sépia, Isabel Allende. Bertrand, R$ 44
6 Solstício de inverno, Rosamunde Pilcher. Bertrand, R$ 54
7 Os cem melhores poemas brasileiros do século, org. Ítalo Moriconi. Objetiva, R$ 32,90
8 Harry Potter e a pedra filosofal, J.K. Rowling. Rocco, R$ 22
9 Harry Potter e a câmara secreta, J.K. Rowling. Rocco, R$ 22
10 O demônio e a srta. Prym, Paulo Coelho. Objetiva, R$ 19,90
NONFICTION
1 Um dia daqueles, Bradley Greive. Sextante, R$ 19.90
2 Quem mexeu no meu queijo?, Spencer Johnson. Record, R$ 19
3 Pai rico, pai pobre, Robert Kiyosaki. Campus, R$ 24
4 Como dizer tudo em inglês, Ronald Martinez, Campus, R$ 29
5 A arte da felicidade, Dalai Lama. Martins Fontes, R$ 32,50
6 Limites sem trauma, Tânia Zagury. Record, R$ 20
7 O livro da sabedoria, Dalai Lama. Martins Fontes, R$ 9,80
8 O avantajado livro de pensamentos do Casseta e Planeta, Casseta e Planeta. Objetiva, R$ 15
9 Os templários, Piers Paul Read. Imago, R$ 40
10 A semente da vitória, Nuno Cobra. Senac, R$ 25
COMPUTERS
1 Core Java 2, fundamentos, Cornell. Makron Books, R$ 79,20
2 Guia Internet de conectividade, several authors. Senac, R$ 15
3 Java, como programar, H. Deitel. Bookman, R$ 94
4 Como fazer planilhas, collection Sucesso Profissional. Publifolha, R$ 14,90
5 Dominando o Windows 2000 server, Mark Minasi. Makron Books, R$ 166,50
6 Como usar a Internet, collection Sucesso Profissional. Publifolha, R$ 14,90
7 Redes de computadores, curso completo, Gabriel Torres. Axcel Books, R$ 129
8 Windows Me, passo a passo, Lite. Makron Books, R$ 29,25
9 Manual completo do hacker, Spyman. Book Express, R$ 45
10 Como navegar na Web, collection Sucesso Profissional. Publifolha, R$ 14,90
According to Jornal do Brasil, http://www.jb.com.br