After the death of his mother, a young Brazilian decides to leave his country and travel to her native land, as she used to dream with, as an Spanish immigrant. In a foreign land, he finds love and danger as he meets a Brazilian waitress and takes smuggled goods with him in order to pay for his travel.

1996 film by Walter Salles, Daniela Thomas

Brazilian MD Drauzio Varella starts AIDS prevention in Brazil's largest prison, Carandiru in São Paulo, where the population is nearly double its 4,000 maximum. Doc learns from experience and the tragic stories of hideous crimes which landed scum there and passionate dramas adding otherwise decent people. Just when he believes to leave the prisoners happy with a soccer tournament, a silly clothing-line argument kick-starts a politically opportune revolt repression.

In a poor neighborhood in Recife, the lives of exotic and bizarre characters entwine in a bar and in a very low-budget hotel. The queer Dunga works in the hotel and has a crush on the butcher Wellington that is married with the religious Kika and has an affair with his mistress Dayse. The sick necrophiliac Isaac owns a yellow Mercedes Benz and wants to have sex with Lígia that owns of Bar Avenida.

The massive arrival of television in rural Brazil in the 1970s jeopardizes the small movie theaters' business. Francisgleydisson is the owner of Cine Holliudy, and he must be extremely creative to keep his passion for cinema alive, a Brazilian way of showing its passion for the 7th art, even in the remotes areas. Cinema Paradiso and Amacord are close references.

Five maids in São Paulo are observed in this episodic, impressionistic film. The women interact with each other, ride busses, work, and have longings: Rai for a husband, Créo for her lost daughter, Roxane for a career in modeling. Quitéria is naive, a gull for thieves. Cida has a husband and also a lover. While each woman gets what she wishes for (more or less), it doesn't always make things better. As Roxane says, no child sets out to become a maid. But once there, are all other doors closed?

In 1942, the lonely German Johann travels through the arid roads in the country of the Northeast of Brazil in his truck selling Aspirin in small villages, using advertisement movies to promote the medicine. He meets the drifter Ranulpho, who intends to go to Rio de Janeiro seeking a better life, and gives a ride to the man. While traveling together, they develop a close friendship, but on 31 August 1942, Brazil declares war to Germany and Johann has to decide if he should return to his home country and fight in the war, or stay in Brazil in a concentration camp; but the option of moving to Amazonas with the migrants of the drought seems to be feasible.

A story inspired by the life of one of the most remarkable figures in Brazilian popular culture, João Francisco dos Santos (1900-1976). In turn, bandit, transvestite, street fighter, brothel cook, convict and father to seven adopted children, dos Santos--better known as Madame Satã--was also a notorious gay performer who pushed social boundaries in a volatile time. The story begins in 1932, in Rio de Janeiro's bohemian Lapa district, when João Francisco is about to achieve his dream: becoming a stage star. In the sordid yet lively world of Lapa--populated by pimps, prostitutes and other denizens of Rio's underworld--João battles the streets and presides over a surrogate family that includes the charming prostitute Laurita, and her baby daughter whom everyone dotes on; the flamboyant hustler Taboo; João's teenage lover, Renatinho; and Amador, the owner of the Blue Danube club which is their second home. It is at the Blue Danube that street tough João begins to sing, and the mythic drag artiste Madam Satã is born.

In São Paulo, the middle-aged housewife and taxidermist Elvira reports to the police that her husband Onofre is missing. The chief of police assigns the snoopy and inconvenient Detective Fuinha to investigate the disappearance of Onofre. The lonely Elvira talks to her blender that recalls the time when Elvira and Onofre have a small establishment where "he" prepares the juices that are served over a counter. When Onofre and Elvira are forced to close the bar, they bring the blender to their simple kitchen. Elvira uses to talk to the blender while Onofre seeks a job. He finds a position of night watchman and one day Onofre takes the blender with him telling that he would buy a new one. When Onofre returns home, he brings the same appliance back and the blender does not talk to Elvira. She pushes him and the blender tells that Onofre has an affair with a nurse and they have spent the day on the beach. On the next morning, Elvira follows Onofre and she sees her husband meeting his mistress on the beach. In the night, Onofre has a great surprise while sleeping and the blender has to work a lot.

Free adaptation of Machado de Assis's classic. The narrator is a rich dead man, who tells us about his life and times, making fun of both.

In the 90's, In Rio de Janeiro, the middle-class João Guilherme Estrella is introduced to the world of drugs consuming maconha and cocaine first and later becoming a drug-dealer with many connections inclusive in Europe. However, he spends all the money he makes in his addiction, parties with clients and friends and travels, never structuring or organizing a network or saving money. When he is arrested, he is sent to the prison first and later to the judicial asylum for treatment, reintegrating to the society. Presently João is a successful musical producer.

Walking by with their three children, Batista and Maria look like their biggest problem is an autistc daughter. However, they have more complicated problems. Batista is an alcoholic fighting for rehabilitation. Maria is a devoted wife living a fiery affair with her daughter's boyfriend, Emília, that poses as a prude but seduces her own boss. Pedro, the oldest, is lost when beginning adulthood. Among the plot, tied by moments of tension and surprise, the family will break down little by little.

This is the story of father and son who work as clowns Puro Sangue/Valdemar (Paulo Jose) and Pangare/Benjamin (Selton Mello) in a circus which travels through the Brazilian country side. Benjamin is a clown who does not have id or social security number. Going through a phase where he starts questioning his ability to make people laugh and his future, Benjamin decides to follow a different path to find his answers and pursue his dreams: a fixed address and the ideal woman. In the adventure, he meets several people on the way to find his own identity.

Brasileiros

More lists by Gustavo Carvalho

Francês