Black Orpheus- A 1959 Film Directed by Michael Camus - A Paris in July 2024 Movie
Paris in July does not just include books. Contributions on your Paris vacation, your favourite meal or restaurant, French movies, music, art, Parisian history and more are very welcome. On the home page for the event you will inevitably discover perhaps new to you authors, movies as well as recipes to send you if you are lucky to Paris or at least the kitchen.
Set in the favellas of Rio de Janeiro, filmed in luscious color, Black Orpheus is a retelling of the Greek myth of Eurydice and Orpheus. I found myself pondering comparisons between Black Orpheus and Orphée directed by Jean Cocteau.
At the film's genesis, we’re introduced to sun-kissed beauty Eurydice (Marpessa Dawn), in a trance of confusion but determined to reunite with her cousin Serafina (Léa Garcia). The lusciously long days ushers in each character like a storybook play, intentionally yet with a sprinkle of wanderlust so they’re not one-dimensional. Orpheus (Breno Mello) is a bubbly man who is not interested in his pestering, yet bombastic beauty of a girlfriend Mira (Lourdes de Oliveira). Her insecurity and Orpheus’ lack of commitment pulls a strain on their relationship, eventually leaving a gaping hole for Eurydice to fall in between. This love triangle of sorts is played out theatrically intertwining us with each character, their dreams and eventual disaster. Ultimately our two lovers’ fated union cannot be tarnished, showing the power of destiny.
Black Orpheus won the Palme d'Or at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival,[9] the 1960 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film,[10] the 1960 Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film and was nominated for the 1961 BAFTA Award for Best Film.
"Marcel Camus (born April 21, 1912, Chappes, Ardennes, Fr.—died Jan. 13, 1982, Paris) was a French motion-picture director who won international acclaim for his second film, Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus) in 1958. The film was praised for its use of exotic settings and brilliant spectacle and won first prize at both the Cannes and Venice film festivals as well as an Oscar from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences." From Enclopedia Britannica
3 comments:
Thanks, I had never heard about this one
Emma at Words and Peace. Black Orpheus visually stunning with excellent music
What a great opportunity, to compare these two films. Had you already known you would go on to watch this one? Or did the Cocteau seal the deal for you?
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