Amigo Oculto (Secret Friend)—Comedy. A family gathering to celebrate Christmas becomes a big mess. Written by Augusto Boal, directed by Marília Pêra, with Fafy Siqueira and Françoise Forton. Teatro do Sesi.
Louca Turbulência (Crazy Turbulence)—After being fired from the radio station she worked for, a radio hostess decides to air some dirty linen about the people she worked with. Teatro Dulcina
Tuti—Drama—An examination of the role of black in Brazilian society. Written Ubirajara Fidalgo, directed by Cyrano Rosalém, with Dalny Dias Cesar and Déo Garcez. Teatro de Arena Elza Osborne
Alice Através do Espelho (Alice Through the Looking Glass)—Based on Lewis Carroll story, the staging uses tricks like a moving ceiling that forces people to lower the head, so the spectator can feel a little like Alice must have felt. Directed by Paulo de Moraes with Cia. Armazém de Teatro. Fundição Progresso.
Os Monólogos da Vagina (The Vagina’s Monologues)—Comedy. Written by Eve Ensler, directed by Miguel Falabella, with Zezé Polessa, Cláudia Rodrigues, and Vera Setta. Based in 200 interviews made in 200 different countries by American Ensler, deals with sexuality and problems with dealing with it from a woman’s perspective.
Bonitinha, Mas Ordinária (Pretty Little Thing and a Slut)—Drama. Written by Nelson Rodrigues, directed by Moacyr Góes, with Natália Lage, André Valli, and Leon Góes. Classical text by controversial author revisits the themes of sex, hypocrisy and guilty so dear to Rodrigues.
SÀO PAULO
Ventriloquist—An amusing and critical take on modern society and the difficulty of being original. Internet, futurology, fashion, and drugs are some of the target of writer and director Gerald Thomas. Movie director Cacá Diegues participates with his voice in off. Teatro São Pedro.
Mais Perto (Closer)—Comedy. Four people getting together, falling in love, having sex, and betraying each other. Written by Patrick Marber, directed by Hector Babenco, with Renata Sorrah, José Mayer, Marco Ricca and Guta Stresser.
Socorro, Mamãe Foi Embora! (Help, Mom’s Gone Away!)—Comedy. Typical Jewish mother abandons the house for one week and comes back announcing she wants to become an actress. Written by Benedito Ruy Barbosa, directed by José Wilker, with John Herbert, Marilene Barbosa, and Dalton Mello. Teatro Imprensa.
Beckettiana # 3—Two texts by Irish playwright Samuel Becket. In the first, different voices talk about the life of an old man. In the second, an old man talks about his anxieties and loneliness. Interpreted by Becket expert Linneu Dias and directed by Rubens Rusche, another Becket expert. Centro Cultural São Paulo.
Fragmentos Troianos (Trojan Fragments)—A comparison between the old Greek wars and World War II and the Holocaust. Written and directed by Antunes Filho, with the young actors of Antunes’s Centro de Pesquisas Teatrais.
O Acidente (The Accident)—Despite the routine a couple ends up finding new virtues in each other, which makes them go on with their relationship. Written by Bosco Brasil, directed by Ariela Goldman, with Denise Weinberg and Geraldo de Barros. Basement of Centro Cultural São Paulo.
O Zelador (The Janitor)—The Harold Pinter story about the impossibility of communication between two men. Directed by Michel Bercovitch, with Selton Mello, Marcos Oliveira, and Leonardo Medeiros. Teatro Alfa
MOVIES
Just-released American movies:
The Road to El Dorado (O Caminho para El Dorado), The Muse (A Musa), The Book of Life (O Livro da Vida), Final Destination (Premonição), Dinosaur (Dinossauro), Finding Graceland (Um Estranho Chamado Elvis), Happy, Judy Berlin (Judy Berlin), Boiler Room (O Primeiro Milhão), Big Momma’s House (Vovó….Zona), Los Angeles Without a Map (Absolutely Los Angeles), Besieged (O Assédio), Titan A. E. (Titan), The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (Os Flintstones em Viva Rock Vegas)
Hunter’s Moon (O Dia da Caça)—Brazil/1999—Nando finds out he has been betrayed after being forced to return to drug trafficking, something he had abandoned. Directed by Alberto Graça, with Marcelo Antony, Barbara Schulz, Jonas Bloch, and Felipe Camargo.
A Terceira Morte de Joaquim Bolívar (The Third Death of Joaquim Bolívar)—Brazil/1998—Centered in the 1964 military coup in Brazil, the story is told in three distinct phases. Directed by Flávio Cândido, with Sérgio Silviero, Othon Bastos, and Jonas Bloch.
Cronicamente Inviável (Chronically Unfeasible)—In a São Paulo restaurant five characters bare their own souls, clash and reconcile. By Sérgio Bianchi, with Cecil Thiré, Betty Gofman, Daniel Dantas, Dan Stulbach, Dira Paes, and Umberto Magnani.
Olé, um Movie Cabra da Peste—Brazil/1999—A Nordestino (a man from the Brazilian Northeast) searching for his sister ends up in Los Angeles and is chased by the Police after getting involved with drug dealers and prostitutes. Directed by Roberto Santucci Filho, with Mario Helborn, Jesus Nebot, Anthony Cordova
Através da Janela (Through the Window)—Brazil/2000—A retired nurse does not know what to do when her young son starts behaving in a weird way. Directed by Tata Amaral, with Laura Cardoso, Fransergio Araújo and Ana Lúcia Torre.
Oriundi—Brazil/2000—Anthony Quinn stars in this Brazilian production by director Ricardo Bravo. On his 96th birthday, Giuseppe (Quinn) is sick and in bad shape financially. A story of intimate dramas and family conflicts. With Leticia Spiller, Paulo Autran and Paulo Betti.
Bossa Nova— Brazil/2000—Based on Sérgio Sant’Anna’s book A Senhorita Simpson (Miss Simpson), this romantic comedy tells the story of an American who teaches English in Rio and who falls in love with two of her students. By Bruno Barreto, with Amy Irving and Antônio Fagundes.
Castelo Rá-Tim-Bum—O Filme (Rá-Tim-Bum Castle, the Film)—Brazil/1999—Based on a successful educational TV show of same name. Directed by Cao Hamburger, with Diego Kozievitch, Sérgio Mamberti, Rosi Campos, Marieta Severo, and Mateus Nachtergaele.
BEST-SELLER BOOKS FICTION
1 Os cem melhores contos brasileiros do século, org. Ítalo Moriconi. Objetiva, R$ 49.90
2 Harry Potter e a pedra filosofal, J.K. Rowling. Rocco, R$ 22
3 A pedra da luz, vol. 2: a mulher sábia, Christian Jacq. Bertrand, R$ 38
4 O doente Molière, Rubem Fonseca. Companhia das Letras, R$ 17
5 Ofensas pessoais, Scott Turow. Record, R$ 30
6 Fim de caso, Graham Greene. Record, R$ 15
7 A casa dos budas ditosos, João Ubaldo Ribeiro. Objetiva, R$ 19
8 O segredo de Shambhala, James Redfield. Objetiva, R$26.90
9 Rainbow 6, Tom Clancy. Record, R$ 60
10 Fogo nas entranhas, Pedro Almodóvar. Dantes, R$ 18
NONFICTION
1 A arte da felicidade, Dalai Lama. Martins Fontes, R$ 32.50
2 Mar sem fim, Amyr Klink. Companhia das Letras, R$ 26.50
3 O livro de ouro da mitologia, Thomas Bulfinch. Ediouro, R$ 29
4 Cittá di Roma, Zélia Gattai. Record, R$ 22
5 As melhores piadas do Planeta e da Casseta também, vol. 3, Casseta e Planeta. Objetiva, R$ 14
6 Brasil: terra à vista, Eduardo Bueno. L&PM, R$ 16.90
7 Capitães do Brasil, Eduardo Bueno. Objetiva, R$ 24.50
8 O português que nos pariu, Angela Dutra Menezes. Relume Dumará, R$ 18
9 Dossiê 50, Geneton Moraes Neto. Objetiva, R$ 16.50
10 A Viagem do descobrimento, Eduardo Bueno. Objetiva, R$ 18
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
1 História da riqueza do homem, Leo Huberman. LTC, R$ 28.70
2 Os tigres assustados, Cristóvam Buarque. Record, R$ 16.20
3 Como fazer apresentações espetaculares, Karen Kalish. Campus, R$ 19.45
4 Seu futuro financeiro, Louis Frankenberg. Campus, R$ 35.50
5 O horror econômico, Viviane Forrester. Unesp, R$ 15
6 O desafio brasileiro, Gustavo Franco. Editora 34, R$ 32
7 O barato sai caro, Alvaro Frota. Qualitymark, R$ 15
8 O Brasil em transformação, Maílson da Nóbrega. Gente, R$ 29
9 O capitalismo global, Celso Furtado. Paz e Terra, R$ 12
10 O longo amanhecer, Celso Furtado. Paz e Terra, R$ 14
According to Jornal do Brasil, http://www.jb.com.br
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