By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Beginning Tuesday, July 19th and continuing through Sunday, July 31st, Caixa Cultural Rio de Janeiro in Centro will host a retrospective of the works of Brazilian cinematographer, filmmaker, and screenwriter, Murilo Salles. The event will include screenings of feature-length and short-length films, a master class and discussions with Salles, and a catalog launch.
A Rio de Janeiro cinematographer turned filmmaker, Salles is known for his works which examine current social and political issues faced by Brazilians of all ages.
The retrospective, curated by Mariana Bezerra, will include films ranging from Salles’ early short film “Sebastião Prata” to the 1971 film “Grande Otelo,” which Salles co-directed with Ronaldo Foster to Salles’ debut feature film, 1984’s “Nunca fomos tão felizes” to 2002’s “Seja o Que Deus Quiser!” to 2014’s “O fim e os meios,” (Means to an End) which focused on the corruption in Brasilia and won the Best Screenplay Award at that year’s Festival do Rio.
“My cinema is contemporary because it addresses current issues,” Salles told O Globo in an interview earlier this year. “My work arises from the unrest caused by the question ‘What country is this?’. I am a guy who is very amazed with Brazil.”
“For example, our doldrums scare me,” Salles later added. “Why are not we in the streets demanding the end of this Panacea (mayor, Eduardo Paes) Eduardo Cunha?” While Cunha would later announce his resignation from his position as Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies Speaker in July, Salles continues to focus on the remaining political issues faced by Brazilians.
“My films are the result of a tumultuous and loving relationship I have with my country,” said Salles in a released statement about the retrospective.”It’s by not giving absurd accounts of the beauty, of the injustice and the wealth, of the affect of the violence, they are the raw material of cinema.”
To open the retrospective on July 19th, there will be a screening of Salles’ 1974 short “Carro de Bois” at 6:30PM. Salles will speak during the event and a catalog featuring original writings by Paulo Sérgio Duarte and José Geraldo Couto, among others will be launched.
Additional events during the retrospective will include two free discussions. The first, a discussion about Brazilian cinema, will take place on July 21st at 5PM and will include Salles, cinematographer Walter Carvalho and researcher Hernon Heffner. The second discussion will focus on the films of Salles and will take place on July 28th at 6PM with critic Carlos Alberto Mattos, historian Mauricio Lissovsky, and Salles himself.
Salles also will hold a free master class entitled “Questões” (Questions) on July 23rd at 2PM. During the class, Salles will comment about scenes from his films as well as discuss the behind the scenes of the making of his works including methods, management, and the functions of the director of photography on a film set.
For additional information about the master class, discussions, screenings, and programming, see the Caixa Cultural Rio de Janeiro website and Facebook page.
What: Murilo Salles Retrospective
When: Tuesday, July 19th through Sunday, July 31st
Where: Caixa Cultural Rio de Janeiro, Av. Almirante Barroso, 25 – Centro
Entrance: R$2 – R$4 for each screening, discussions and master class are free.