Caetano Veloso Movies

If references to the fado -- an ancient Portuguese form of music -- fail to strike a chord with even the most cultured American viewers, this is only attributable to the genre's longtime obscurity. A Portuguese musical mode borne out of early 19th century Lisbon, and characterized by long, ornate, emotionally heavy ballads lamenting lost loves and shattered dreams, the fado began to experience a stunning and unpredicted resurgence in the early 21st century. Carlos Saura's 2007 documentary Fados captures the musical genre at this point, as it begins to reattain popularity. As the third and concluding installment in the director's "musical trilogy" that began with Flamenco (1995) and Tango (1998), the film first traces the history of the fado form, then moves into a veritable concert of fado all-stars (or fadistas) including Mariza, Camane, Caetano Veloso, and others -- staged and filmed on a succession of elaborate sets such as a recreation of a period Lisbon bar. Saura also works in tributes to such past fado performers as Amália Rodrigues and Chico Buarque. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

Even those cineastes who fail to recognize the name Vinicius De Moraes will know at least two of his works; he was the Brazilian belletrist who provided the source play for the legendary Black Orpheus (1959), directed by Marcel Camus, and authored the pop standard "The Girl from Impanema," sung by Astrud Gilberto. But this only represents the tip of the proverbial iceberg. A cultural genius by any definition, De Moraes built up a fantastic body of work as a playwright, lyricist and poet and eventually qualified as a national icon. With the documentary Vinicius, director Miguel Faria, Jr. pays homage to De Moraes, and takes a long, loving look at the man's life, career and myriad accomplishments, by intercutting archival footage, interviews and musical renditions of the artist's songs, performed by famous Brazilian singers. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

Los Super Seven is a loose collective of Hispanic American musicians who have brought together their differing creative perspectives and musical backgrounds in order to find new creative horizons. Featuring country star Ricky Trevino, Mavericks lead singer Raul Malo, Tejano headliner Ruben Ramos, and East L.A. roots rockers Los Lobos, Los Super Seven: No Borders -- Canto follows the group during the creation of their second album, Canto, and as they prepare to take their new music out of the studio and into concert halls for a tour. Also featured are legendary Brazilian singer and songwriter Caetano Veloso and Peruvian diva Susana Baca. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Legendary Brazilian director Carlos Diegues recasts the tragic myth of Orpheus in the shantytowns of Rio de Janeiro during Carnival. Orfeu de Conceicao is the most famous samba player in Brazil, and one of the most respected members of the neighborhood of Carioca Hill, a labyrinth of dirty streets and quickly made shacks ruthlessly controlled by drug lord Lucinho. Young Orfeu, though, lives a gilded life. He has his pick of a bevy of local beauties, children worship him, and the corrupt police will not harass him like the others in the area. During the run-up to Carnival, his world is turned upside down with the appearance of the gorgeous Euridice, who has just moved from the remote untamed hinterland of the Amazon. In spite of her indifference to samba music and her initial reluctance, the two soon fall passionately in love. Unfortunately, the violence of their surroundings threatens to overwhelm them. When Lucinho takes a liking to Euridice and challenges his former childhood friend, Orfeu is forced to endure a brutal test for his love. Orfeu was screened at the 1999 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

This experimental Brazilian film offers a tuneful, decidedly unique look at the life of Brazil's first recording artist Mario Reis, who was well loved for making his music accessible to audiences from every social stratum. Reis also discovered some of his country's most popular singers including Noel Rosa Ismael Silva and composers such as Tom Jobim and Hector Villa-Lobos. The film playfully unfolds like a fractured music video feature many kitschy images interspersed with actual performances. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A beautiful woman discovers a new side of her personality in this erotic drama. Kansas-born Emily Reed (Carré Otis) is an intelligent but naive young woman who has made a name for herself as a lawyer and is hired to work with businesswoman Claudia Lirones (Jacqueline Bisset), who is putting the finishing touches on a major real estate deal. Claudia brings Emily with her as she jets off to Rio De Janeiro to wrap up the sale of a resort hotel to the Chinese. When Claudia is unexpectedly called away, Emily is left in the care of James Wheeler (Mickey Rourke), an expatriate American multi-millionaire with a truly remarkable tan who is in on Claudia's deal. The Carnivale is in full swing in Rio, and James seeks to broaden Emily's horizons by introducing her to the sensual pleasures lurking all around her; James and Emily soon become involved, which complicates matters when Claudia returns. One of Wild Orchid's love scenes between Mickey Rourke and Carré Otis had to be trimmed so that the film could gain an R rating for American release (the uncut version was later released on home video); a widely circulated rumor had it that Rourke and Otis, who were living together at the time, had actually had sex while the scene was filmed, though Otis later denied it. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Dede (Guilherne Fontes) is a Brazilian teen who lives with his middle-class grandparents who are members of the local communist party. When his grandmother dies, his grandfather's health soon fades to the point where he can't speak or walk. The local party officials ask Dede to continue to family tradition and take over his grandfather's position of social authority, but when Dede is introduced to cocaine by his best friend Alpino (Marcos Palmeira), the attraction to drugs is more appealing to him than political activism. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

A Brazilian police official has been sent to a remote area of the country (in the state of Goias) on some undercover mission, and along the way a beautiful female member of one of Brazil's native tribes befriends him, and at one point, saves his life. They become very close -- until they reach the policeman's destination, a diamond-mining camp, where the miners' prejudice forces the native woman into a marginal, inferior status. Once the policeman has taken care of the corrupt mining boss in a manner beyond the laws of the country, he leaves, and the woman follows him along his way out again. He knows he cannot take her back to the city with him, and not having any real respect for the native Brazilians himself, his solution to handling the problem of an unwanted female companion is not any different than his solution to handling an unwanted, corrupt mining boss. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

A cynical Rio playboy lives with his parents and wishes for the good life. He vows never to end up like his middle-class parents. His mother spends her time as an immaculate homemaker while his father chases the women who work for him in his downtown office. The playboy and his friends cruise the bars at night, swearing at strangers and complaining about their lives while doing nothing to improve their situation. The reveler dreams of fast cars, opulent lodgings complete with two swimming pools, and his choice of beautiful women. He takes comfort in the arms of a lonely older woman who provides him with the things he desires. Both gain an understanding of their loneliness and hopes for the future in this comedic drama. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

This intellectual new-wave style comedy finds passengers on an airplane each with a story of their own. One woman represents Pandora, and the box opens to pollute the world with male-dominated foibles; a nun can't agree with the church's embracing of current political figures and philosophy; and a married woman allows herself to fantasize about a fellow passenger. Alienation among humans is a reoccurring theme in this revealing and unusual feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide