THE AFRO-BRAZILIAN AFFAIR

The Brazilian Film Festival 2019 concluded this weekend. The two movies that were served to the public were exceptional and more evidence of the prowess and skill of Brazilian filmmakers. 

RIO 2096: A STORY OF LOVE AND FURY

On Thursday 26th, I had the pleasure of engaging in the animated film Rio 2096: A Story of Love & Fury ( Uma História de Amor e Fúria ) directed by Luiz Bolognesi.




The film is narrated by an Immortal warrior, who is part of the Tupinambá people (the year is 1566), part of the various inhabitants of the Tupi people of present-day Brazil. In the words of Abeguar, we watch as he is granted the power of flight in human form by the god Munhã. He is tasked to lead his people away from the evil clutches of Anhangá and he is granted immortality so as to achieve his purpose. With this, he is able to survive almost 600 years of Brazil's most turbulent times in all of history. He survives the invasion of the Portuguese in the land and turns into a bird, flying for years and years. 




Abeguar is able to reincarnate into a new life when he sees his beloved Janaína (killed in the Portuguese invasion), in the next life (1825) when slavery is at its peak. He comes back with a different identity but Janaína. 

He returns as well during the Brazilian dictatorship in 1968, once again, his life brought to purpose by a goal for freedom as well as the fact that Janaína is around. But I believe the best part of the film was when there was the time travel into 2096, a new era when there is a fight for everyone to have clean water. It was shocking for me to see that the price of water is way higher than that of any type of branded scotch.

Rio 2096 is a well brought out eye-opener to Brazilian views on racism, governance, freedom, struggles of the common Brazilian and of course, love. It was very clever how the writer kept Janaína's identity the same whilst changing out Immortal warrior's thus exhibiting the vitality to her role and standing by the Immortal warrior on the fight against injustices

I also give the film an A+ for keeping the events moving along without any unnecessary delays, making the time span of the film just at attention's peak. The animated features were generally spot-on.

The film stars Selton Mello, Camila Pitanga ( Tropical Paradise, Cat's Cradle, Irrational Heart, Side By Side ) and Rodrigo Santoro with the participation of actors like Bevmvindo Sequeira ( Baruk from Moses and the Ten Commandments ) and has won awards from the Annecy International Animated Film Festival for Best Feature and the Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival for Audience Award.

A scene from 'Long way Home' starring Grace Passô

Temporada/Long way Home Poster

The Brazilian Film Festival continued yesterday (14/09/2019) with the screening of the award-winning Coffee with Cinnamon, produced by Ary Rosa and Glenda Nicácio. I was late by 41 minutes, but it seems to me that I hardly missed anything important. We were also bridled with some technical hitches here and there, but nothing that we couldn't decide to simply overlook for the sake of enjoying this gem of Brazilian cinema.



Coffee with Cinnamon is a film that highlights the realness in loss and how different people handle the loss of loved ones, and how difficult it may seem to move on from the tragedy. It also encapsulates the possibility of hope, even where there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

Margarida isolates herself in the town of Sao Felix, her home, after the loss of her child. She is merely existing and not living, hiding behind the shadow of cowardice as well as a desperate will to cling to the past. Her husband, Paulo, leaves her eventually, unable to take any more of her bouts of sadness.

In the same Bahian town lives Violeta, her husband, Marcos, and her children. Violeta, cumbered with a load of taking care of her sick grandmother, Roquelina, chooses to see life in a positive light, waking up every day and making coxinhas and merry with a wide an amazingly encouraging range of optimism.

WHAT I LOVED

The directors of this film were successful in the true depiction of just how much Margardia had decided to give up on the adventure called life, with scenes showing tangled weeds closing up on her in her home, blood running from the top to the bottom of her walls, her much questionable and as Violeta called it ungodly state of not keeping herself clean, with voices heard once saying: She died together with the boy

Violeta feels like she owes this woman who reminded her once that life should not be given up on, and decides that she will now take it upon herself to unearth this woman from her sad state, and thanks to a cup of well-made coffee with cinnamon, repetition of a mantra on how one keeps on breathing even after the tragedy, and a rose a day, Margarida is able to upon herself up to Violeta, and even does what I was annoyed by the whole time watching the film - picked up the courage to go into her dead son's room and packed up the last of his things!

The highlight of the film for me was the realness with which Margarida described how she feels about the cinema. It was a sign as to the impending gradual moving-on process that was commencing:

A good film is one that shows the weaknesses, the limitations and the anguishes that everyone has. A good movie wants to try you and be tried, and when that happens you lose your ground, lose your shame, lose the line and transcend.

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The Brazilian Film Festival in Nairobi begins today at @afnairobi! Films will be shown on September 12, 14, 26 and 28. Don’t miss this chance to enjoy Brazilian culture! 🇧🇷🎥🍿 Free admission. Check the programme at http://nairobi.itamaraty.gov.br/pt-br/News.xml

A post shared by Embassy of Brazil in Kenya (@brazilembassykenya) on Sep 12, 2019 at 8:47am PDT

The Brazilian Film Festival kicked off yesterday at the Alliance Francaise de Nairobi. from 7 p.m. in the Wangari Maathai Auditorium.

The event was officially opened by Ambassador Fernando Coimbra, in commemoration of the unending once a year chance to show the people of Kenya sides to the culture of Brazil that they are yet to know of, with the assurance of choosing of award-winning, new, high-quality films sure to arrest attention.
Ambassador Fernando also introduced the outgoing Political Counsellor André Pinto Pacheco, who up until the impending end of his cycle, has been in charge, among many things,  of the Cultural department of the Embassy. We got a chance to know the incoming official, Mrs Ilana Godinho Guimaraes.

Afterwards, the movie commenced almost immediately.

Fevereiros ( translated in English as Februaries ) is a film directed by Marcio Debellian. The film was a homage to the celebrated Brazilian songstress Maria Bethânia, as the film depicted the organization and final exhibition of the 2016 Carnival of Rio Championship with was won by Mangueira, the most popular Samba school in Brazil.



WHAT I LOVED

The film was very central in highlighting many peculiarities that I was yet to understand. A very raw eye is thrown onto the realities of religious tolerance in Brazil. Santo Amaro, the hometown of Maria Bethânia, is very tolerant to the Catholic denomination as well as the traditional religion of Candomblé which is Afro-Brazilian and came about in the 19th century, in Bahia, where the first temple was put up.

The film was very vocal in showing how welcoming into her home Maria Bethânia is to the local community of her home town, with scenes showing how the Baianas will prepare with precision and detail to come into the home of the Velosos.

Fevereiros is also very moving as it highlights a never-ending issue of racism, the happiness experienced by the black people of Santo Amaro, and Caetano Veloso was very vocal in backing up the fact that the festivities are only appreciated in Santo Amaro but not in the rest of the country which. in his opinion, is very sad.

Left: Caetano Veloso Right: Maria Bethânia

What I loved most about this film, is how it continued to show the fact that the Brazilian people are extremely spirited and full of life, despite the very obvious differences that each one has. There is a sense of unity and camaraderie that the film shows when it opens us to Afro-Brazilian cultures that are still widely practiced in places, such as in Santo Amaro. 

The very detail and color that escorts the entire procession in festivities such as the annual Carnival, the Day of the Purification of our Lady on February 2nd, forms the very foundation of what makes Brazil a collage of freedom, love, and unity, as depicted by the people as they prepare for the festivities.

The film has wonderful testimonials from not only the Velosos but also Chico Buarque, Pai Gilson, Leandro Vieira, Pai Pote, Squel Jorgea, Luiz Antonio Simas, Julia Basbaum and Nina Basbaum

Let's not forget how short and precise the film was. I am glad it did not get to a point where the film crew was trying to prolong the film by adding unnecessary scenes so that was a plus for me. Listening to the Portuguese also enhances the authenticity of the events and nothing is lost in dubbed translation.



I would like to thank the Embassy of Brazil in Nairobi for the wonderful opportunity to watch this award-winning gem that is proof of Brazil's prowess in the film arena. For those who missed, you can catch the next film, Coffee with Cinnamon, ( Café com Canela ) on the 14th of September 2019 at the Alliance Francaise de Nairobi from 7 p.m to 9 p.m. It is a free screening.

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The Brazilian Film Festival in Nairobi begins today at @afnairobi! Films will be shown on September 12, 14, 26 and 28. Don’t miss this chance to enjoy Brazilian culture! 🇧🇷🎥🍿 Free admission. Check the programme at http://nairobi.itamaraty.gov.br/pt-br/News.xml

A post shared by Embassy of Brazil in Kenya (@brazilembassykenya) on Sep 12, 2019 at 8:47am PDT