Black Orpheus

source: Black Orpheus

Orfeu Negro

Modern updating of the Greek legend "Orpheus and Eurydice" set in Rio during Carnival. Local man meets a naive young woman from the country and they fall in love, but theirs is a doomed affair: he's set to marry a man-hungry spitfire and she's being stalked by a mysterious admirer in costume. French-Brazilian co-production was an international hit and won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, so it's rather a pity it isn't better. There's wonderful music by Luiz Bonfá and Antonio Carlos Jobim, local ambiance and romance, but the story is awfully creaky by now, and the direction is flat and inexpressive. The color cinematography gives the film a tasty allure, but this verbose plot is ready-built for tragedy, and ultimately all we are left with is the locale and the pretty samba music. *1/2 from ****

Music, Carnaval and love story. All in a mythical Brasil, in soft pagan shadows and old Greek memory. A gentle film about desire and hate, about revenge and death. A marvelous film thanks to the precision of details. The soul of ancient tragedy is present. The Latino hubbub, with pre- Christian rites and images inebriation is present too and the movie is result of this subtle fight and wonderful completion. It is hard to define a film of this category. Artistic value is part of scenes in personal past and the film is only ladder for a golden age space. So, the gifts of "Orfeu Negro" is perfect refinement, the delicate acting. "Black Orpheus" is a precious tracery about human condition.

Truly a magical film! Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro) transports you and makes you long for the Rio of the late 50s (slums and all). Marcel Camus has taken a classic tale of eternal love and transplanted it into "modern times" flawlessly. It has it all -- love, suspense, myth, music, dancing, tragedy -- set amidst the frenetic backdrop of the carnival. I'll always thank the friend who introduced me to this film.

This movie dazzles me so much that whenever I'm truly depressed, I can watch it and my mood elevates. It's hard to say what aspect is best: the cinematography is superb (makes you want to take the first plane to Rio), the cast is wonderful, the music is haunting and beautiful, and the Orpheus/Eurydice myth is well suited to the setting in a Rio favela. I've only seen it on video, but I keep hoping it will be revived somewhere so I can catch it on the big screen!

This is one of the only movies that has ever made me weep. It seems a little contrived in the beginning when all the characters just happen to be named after mythological characters, but by the end of the movie, one forgets all about how the movie could have been corny. It's definitely the best subtitled film I've seen, and I hope more people vote on it so that it can get on the top 250.

Brazil's election as host of the 2016 Olympics creates a really big reason to watch Marcel Camus's "Orfeo Negro" ("Black Orpheus" in English). I had never known the Orpheus myth until I saw this film, and what a way to learn it! Of course the movie's main pleasure is to see Carnaval. In this version, Rio de Janeiro conductor Orpheus (Bruno Mello) falls in love with country woman Eurydice (Marpessa Dawn), but can't forget his relationship with Mira (Lourdes de Oliveira). The bossa nova soundtrack is like a character by itself. To be certain, Antonio Carlos Jobim is best known for "Girl from Ipanema". All in all, this is a truly fine experience. As it turns out, Barack Obama's mother Ann Dunham saw "Black Orpheus" in the theater - before she met Barack Sr. - and it was her first real exposure to black culture. Really great.

"Orfeu Negro" places the Orpheus legend in Rio de Janeiro at the time of its Carnival. Marcel Camus' film is fast paced, shot it beautiful color, has lovely and vibrant music (by Luis Bonfa and Antonio Carlos Jobim) and a most attractive cast, particularly the two leads. There is a vital, throbbing tempo established which seems to propel the story forward in an almost choreographic manner. The film remains a quite unique piece of work, with many haunting images.