Semana passada (Last week) Brazil lost one of its greatest artists: the filmmaker Hector Babenco, who passed away on July 13th.

Born in 1946 in Argentina, Babenco mudou-se (moved) to our country at the idade (age) of 19, and was naturalized a Brazilian citizen shortly after. His remarkable career amounts to onze (eleven) feature films, both national and international productions, working in projects that involve names such as Maryl Streep and Jack Nicholson. Hector was member of the jury at many film festivals, like Venice, Berlin and Cannes. His latest project, My Hindu Friend, from 2015, stars Willem Dafoe in the main role. The protagonist is confronted by death when he finds out about having cancer, and must face his disease while undergoing treatment with an Indian kid, referenced in the title. The movie contains autobiographical traits, as Babenco was also diagnosed with cancer years earlier.

The director was one of the greatest names in Brazilian cinema and his work is part of our country’s movie history. Today’s post is dedicated to his films, and I will discuss três (three) of his major contributions.

Pixote- A Lei do Mais Fraco (1981)

His terceiro (third) feature film, the title can be literally translated as “the law of weakest”. Pixote is about um garoto (a boy) who is part of a group of homeless kids in São Paulo (the director used non-actors to play the part of the children, including the protagonist).

Alone in the world, Pixote bonds with prostitutes and drug dealers. After living the desolate reality of a helpless street kid, the 10-year-old Pixote is forced to lead uma vida (a life) of crime until he is sent to juvenile detention (known in Brazil as FEBEM), a hopeless scenario where he witnesses atrocities and becomes a victim of violence and emotional abuse. The movie is shot in a documentary-like style and was elected by a number of critics as one of the top ten movies of the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CT7bOnhrsY

O Beijo da Mulher Aranha – Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)

O Beijo da Mulher Aranha is one of Babenco’s main works, o primeiro (the first) to earn him international success.

Based upon a Michael Puig novel, the movie takes place in a Brazilian prison and the plot revolves around Valentin and Molina, a revolutionary left-wing militant and a homosexual. The two dividem (share) a prison cell, spend their time debating and sharing memories, diverting each other from their brutal reality and ultimately developing an unlikely amizade (friendship). The movie was nominated for many awards and earned William Hurt, one of the leading characters, an oscar. The casting also includes Raúl Juliá and Sonia Braga, one of Brazil’s most renowned actresses.

Carandiru (2003)

A huge international sucess, Carandiru brings onto the screen the drama of the largest detention facility in Brazil. The film is an adaptation of the best-selling literary work, Estação Carandiru -based on a true story – by notorious Brazilian doctor Dráuzio Varella, who was trabalhando (working) in the penitentiary the day a massive riot broke out and 111 inmates were killed.

Dráuzio narrates his experiences with the inmates and traces a portrait of the cruelty that propel prisoners to create their own moral codes. Babenco’s movie, filmed on location, exposes the flawed and unjust system, like overcrowded prison cells, drug abuse, police brutality and corruption.

I hope you get a chance too see his work!

Tenham uma boa semana! Have a good week!