The Brazil Film Festival that just passed this weekend was an outstanding success, presented incredible films, and had great attendance from both Brazilian and Canadians. The opening night was wonderful and the media was present.
Art
Brazil Film Fest Best Bets
With the Brazil Film Fest approaching this weekend, I thought I’d put my two cents in about which films were the best bets to check out.
Out of all the movies, the only one I have seen already is Madame Satã. A true story set in 1930’s Rio de Janeiro, about João Francisco dos Santos, and “the [...]
Brazil Film Fest 2009
Hey film nerds and lovers of Brazilian culture out there! Toronto has not one, but two, yes, count ‘em, two Brazilian film festivals!! The third edition of the annual Brazil Film Fest takes place in Toronto October 22-25, 2009. This Film Fest has an edition in Montreal as well as the one in Toronto and this year their moto is “4 days of Brazilian multiculturalism.”
Save Lula Lounge! popular manifestation for community and culture!
Just the other day the residents and patrons of Dundas West participated in a popular manifestation that brought out a lot of media and a who’s who of artists that have played at Lula Lounge. The most entrtaining were of course the Brazilphiles, who had their surdos, caixas, tamborins out in force as the rain [...]
Cirque du Soleil: OVO (inspired by the Brazilian Amazon)
The latest Cirque du Soleil show currently under the Big Top in Toronto is OVO. Ovo means egg in Portuguese, and the show is based on the apparition of an egg among the insects of the Amazon. It is a headlong rush into a colourful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects’ home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion. There is movement, beauty, reflection, symbolism and love; the audience is refreshed by the awe that pours over their senses.
Musica Brasileira: Tim Maia
Tim Maia is the man who is responsible for the Black Soul movement of Rio de Janeiro in the seventies. He is a man who was well ahead of the game musically in Brazil and who inspired and continues to inspire countless musicians. Now a decade after his death at the age of 55, he is receiving the attention he deserves for his musical genius. One could describe his music as soul or funk, or as they say in Brazil ‘Black Music’, but he invariably mixed baião, samba, bossanova, maracatu and any influences he came into contact with. He is also known as an over-the-top crazy bohemian.
Allende Arts Festival
There is a little publicized festival in Toronto which for the past 6 years has been presenting alternative movements from Toronto’s Latin American artists. Ok Ok many of you out there are like “alternative movements? what does that mean?” In this particular case it means presenting different artists and artistic trends that are not wholly [...]
Long Weekend of Brazil! BrazilFest and Brazilian Day Canada
This weekend was the weekend of Brazil in Canada, as several Brazilian festivals and events took place around Toronto, culminating in the Brazilian Independence day celebration at Dundas Square, the 1st annual Brazilian Day Canada.
Ok lets start with the weekend as a whole… On Friday night, Hot and Spicy Food Festival, Circus Alchemy performed their [...]
Brazilian Film Festival of Toronto 2009
Brazil is a country with many faces and multiple textures. Too often than not we fall into describing Brazil as the land of soccer, samba, carnival and cachaça. While these are indeed huge parts of the Brazilian identity, they are but a part of the rich tapestry that makes up this huge state. The 2nd [...]
Theater: 8 Girls Without Boyfriends
Now, you may ask, why would a Brasilian arts focused guy like myself take the time to drive over the Rio Mate mobile from a family dinner in order to see a very “Toronto theater scene” type play? Well… a very witty and sly capoeirista, from the group Semente de Jogo de Angola, personally invited me to attend.
