Can you name a few of these movies?
The Cinema Novo in general. All those movies reflect Brazil's reality, but at the same time they are distant to the
Brazilian humanity. The characters have a larger weight then the true Brazilian humor and humanity. Some movies, like Vidas
Secas, do show this humanity but it's rare.
I feel that now is the time for me to speak about this period, about this dream. The specific place of Bossa Nova.
I think I am not the only one, but I would be the only one if I didn't like the music. It is a Brazilian artistic manifestation
that has international recognition. Not only because of this recognition but, the Bossa Nova, demonstrates a Brazilian
excellency. So I think it's interesting to talk about this issue. To check through the approval of this excellency, what
was this quest that was imposed at the time. If it still is possible to believe that art, or at least the artists, can change
the world.
So I thought of a fictitious band that plays Bossa Nova. They want to participate in the Carnegie Hall concert, but
obviously they are not successful, after all they are fictitious. They do come to the U.S. but don't play the concert.
The name of the movie will be Os Desafinados. I am developing the script, with characters that are either based on
real figures of the movement or a combination of these figures. What interests me, is the musician's journey throughout the
world to spread their music. There are a number of musicians of that time that didn't do too good. Some, like Jobim,
Joćo Gilberto or Sergio Mendes, came to the U.S. and were really successful. However, many others did the same thing
and nothing happened for them. My band is somewhat similar. A couple of the band members become successful, two of them
go back to Brazil and one, disappears in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This last one was inspired on Tenorio Junior, a
pianist who disappeared during the '60s dictatorship.
This would take place in a 30-year time span. From that period when they first met and were playing, up until the period
of Collor’s impeachment. This chronicle will take place first in the past it will jump to the present and back
to the past. Not in a chronological order. It will start around the time of the Carnegie Hall concert, go up until '67 then
jump to the '90s and go to the period before they actually met each other. The movie will end with the same scene that it
starts. The day that the band members meet each other during a jam session. So everything that they believe they will be
able to do, we already know how it comes out. There is a touch of irony, but the idea that I want to pass on, is of a dramatic
comedy. Not like The Oyster and the Wind, Innocence or The Dolphin, some of my other movies.
That's interesting because your portrayal, is in essence what the Bossa Nova itself portrayed. The movement had this positive
and yet dramatic quality to it.
Yes and the music is very light as well. I thought of asking the heirs of the Bossa Nova, such as Edu Lobo, Chico
Buarque, Caetano, a new repertoire for the movie. In fact I have already asked for some music.
So where exactly are you with this project and when do you believe you will start it?
I am still writing it. Hopefully if everything goes well and granted I don't have any problems with production in Brazil,
I hope to start filming mid 1999.
I don't want to work only with Brazilian production companies, I would like to work with foreign companies as well. Specially
since this theme, to a certain extent, touches and is of international interest. It doesn't make sense to do a movie just
for the Brazilian market.
