Brazilian Film
Film was introduced to Brazil at the turn of the century, but it took some time before it established itself as a popular form of entertainment in the country. The industry has had numerous ups and downs, which is largely due to the fact that the industry is dependent upon the government for funds and support.
Shortly after the Lumiere brothers introduced their amazing invention, a film exhibition was held in Rio de Janeiro and it served as the country’s introduction to film. In 1898, the Italian Alfonso Segreto is said to have filmed the Guanabara Bay from the ship Bresil on his return journey from Europe, although Europe, although there is no historical proof to verify this event.
In 1930 Mario Peixoto produced a film titled Limite. It was poorly received by audiences but it would eventually come to be regarded as one of the silent film era’s masterpieces. A Brazilian actress, Carmen Miranda, gained visibility overseas in the 1940s. In 1946 Gilda de Abreu produced a film entitled O Ebrio that was largely representative of a typical Latin melodrama and it became a major hit, drawing in about four million viewers.
In the 1940s and 1950s, a film production company called Atlantida began producing films that attracted large audiences. This period was the peak of their popularity. Several actors became associated with Atlantida’s film and attracted more viewers, including Oscaarito and Jose Lewgoy. While some film critics brush aside the films of this period as being overly commercial and americanized, they did attract large audiences the way no other film company had. The telenovela of today’s television is also said to be carrying on the spirit of this era of film.
In the 1970s and 1980s, films produced began to greatly benefit from state run agencies. One such agency was Embrafilme who had an ambiguous role and was often criticized for its somewhat dubious selection criteria. However, the films that were produced were highly memorable and some of the most successful films in Brazilian film history were produced in this era. In 1975, the peak number of film theaters was reached, and there were more than three thousand projection rooms in existence. That same year, more than two hundred and seventy-five million movie tickets were sold.
However, in the early nineties, there was a severe decrease in State funding that film production practically came to a halt around 1989, when Embrafilme was closed. However, in the mid nineties, there was a burst of cinematic production, thanks to new incentive laws created by the FHC government. Since then, some Brazilian films produced have been nominated for academy awards, including O Quatrilho, Central Station, and City of God.
Brazilian citizens still have a tasted for social and political criticism in cinema. Some of the most common film themes are poverty, drought, and famine. However, the common movie-goer has noticed a shift toward films that are far more audience friendly today. Brazilian films are an excellent means of examining Brazil’s truly diverse culture.