Rio’s Caixa Cultural Screens Films Inspired by Shakespeare

By Beatriz Miranda, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL – This Tuesday, September 5th, the “Reinventando Shakespeare” (Reinventing Shakespeare) film exhibit opens in Caixa Cultural, in Centro. Showcasing both Brazilian and foreign audiovisual versions of Shakespeare’s works, the event also includes two panel discussions and special sessions with debates until September 17th.

The exhibit aims to present cinematographic rereadings of British playwright William Shakespeare, considered by many to be the most important theater author of all times.

“We wanted to promote audiovisual adaptations that are more daring, that prove how timeless Shakespeare is, and how relevant his work is to the arts’ history”, says Marcelo Miranda, one of the exhibit’s curators.

Among the festival’s highlights, one can find “Ran” (1985), by Akira Kurosawa, and “Othello” (1951), by notorious filmmaker Orson Welles. Inspired in the play “King Lear”, “Ran”, to be exhibited on Sunday, September 17th, tells the story of a power dispute among three brothers in Medieval Japan.

Based on the namesake play, “Othello”, displayed on Saturday, September 16th, tells the story of a Moorish general who falls into a trap, which makes he think that his wife Desdemona is having an affair.

Polanski’s “Macbeth” (1971) and less known “Ophelia” (1963), by Claude Chabrol, are also worth watching. Polanski’s audiovisual adaptation brings the story of a Scottish lord who seizes the throne with the help of witches, while Chabrol’s production, inspired in “Hamlet”, depicts the obsession of a young man who suspects his mother and uncle had killed his father to marry each other. The films will be exhibited on September 7th and 9th, respectively.

“The movies we have selected are, in some way, a betrayal of Shakespeare, because we want to honor him by emphasizing what makes him fundamental to contemporary Western culture: his visionary dimension”, says Miranda.

The event will also screen important works from the Brazilian cinema, like “A Herança” (The Heritage, 1970), by Ozualdo Candeias, based on “Hamlet”. The most famous love story of all times will not be missing either, with Abel Ferrara’s “China Girl” (1987), a Romeo & Juliet version set in the context of New York’s gang fights, beign displayed on September 12th.

What’s more, “Reinventando Shakespeare” will promote panel discussions and film sessions followed by debates. On Saturday, September 9th, at 5PM, researcher and playwright Felipe Moraes and filmmaker Cristiano Burlan gather to discuss “Hamlet”, the most adapted of Shakespeare’s plays.

On Wednesday, September 13th, at 7PM, the panel “Shakespeare: the original genious” will approach the author’s visionary character and his great influence in the arts. All of the parallel attractions are free, with tickets being distributed one hour before.

What: “Reinventando Shakespeare” (Reinventing Shakespeare)
When: September 5th – September 17th – see venue to check time details
Where: Caixa Cultural – Avenida Almirante Barroso, 25 – Centro – Tel: (21) 3980-3815
Entrance: R$2 – R$4