Bye Bye Brasil (1980)

The Caravana Rolidei rolls into town with the Gypsy Lord at the mike: he does magic tricks, the erotic Salomé dances, and the mute Swallow performs feats of strength. A young accordion ... See full summary »

Director:

Carlos Diegues

Writers:

Carlos Diegues, Leopoldo Serran

Stars:

José Wilker, Betty Faria, Fábio Jr.

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
José Wilker	...	Lorde Cigano
Betty Faria	...	Salomé
Fábio Jr.	...	Ciço (as Fábio Júnior)
Zaira Zambelli	...	Dasdô
Príncipe Nabor	...	Andorinha / Swallow
Emmanuel Cavalcanti	...	Prefeito / Mayor (as Emanoel Cavalcanti)
José Márcio Passos	...	Assessor Prefeito / Mayor's Assistant
Carlos Kroeber	...	Caminhoneiro / Truck Driver
Joffre Soares	...	Zé da Luz
Rodolfo Arena	...	Lavrador / Peasant
Aderbal Junior
Carlos Lagoeíro	...	Sertanejos
Catalina Bonakie	...	Viúva / Widow (as Catalina Bonaky)
Rinaldo Gines	...	Chefe Índio / Indian Chief
Marcus Vinícius	...	Empresário

Storyline

The Caravana Rolidei rolls into town with the Gypsy Lord at the mike: he does magic tricks, the erotic Salomé dances, and the mute Swallow performs feats of strength. A young accordion player is completely enamored of Salomé, and he begs to come along. The Gypsy Lord shrugs, and the accordionist and his pregnant wife, Dasdô, join the troupe. Television is their enemy as they go from the coast deep into the Amazon. Salomé lets the accordion player sleep with her once, with Dasdô's knowledge. He's moon-struck. Then, after Dasdô's baby is born and financial disaster hits the troupe, and the accordionist must choose between seeing his wife a prostitute and leaving the caravan.

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Plot Keywords:

accordion | television | mute | amazon | circus | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

France Brazil Argentina

Language:

Portuguese

Release Date:

9 February 1980 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

Bye Bye Brazil

Filming Locations:

Altamira, Pará, Brazil

Company Credits

Production Co:

Luiz Carlos Barreto Produções Cinematográficas

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Official submission of Brazil to the 1981's Oscars in the best foreign language film category.

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Quotes

Lorde Cigano: Accordionist, you know why the jungle is virgin? 'Cause it's full of "fruits".

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the film you can read: "Ao povo brasileiro do século XXI" - means: "To the brazilian people of 21st century".

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Connections

Features O Ébrio (1946)

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Soundtracks

Bye Bye Brasil
Written by Chico Buarque and Roberto Menescal
Performed by Chico Buarque

User Reviews

Manifest Destiny and Elbow Room In Brazil

SYNOPSIS: A small band of circus performers drift through the hinterlands of 1970s Brazil looking for opportunity and freedom.

CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER: Escaping your everyday life and throwing caution to the wind to chase your dreams. Only to find out that your dreams aren't what you thought and that there is a big difference between lust and love.

PROS AND CONS: This is an interesting film on several levels. It shows a part of the world that is quickly disappearing. The idea that you can run off into undeveloped country and live off your wits and the kindness / stupidity of others is quickly fading in modern society. That wasn't the case in 1970s Brazil where the vast interior was full or opportunity and little else.

In this film a young man and his pregnant wife flee the poverty of rural Brazil to join the CARNIVAL ROLIDEI, a rag-tag group consisting of a charismatic con man, his dancer / prostitute girlfriend and a mute strong-man. They travel the dirt roads of Brazil, seeking peasants that are easily entertained by their simple tricks and lusty burlesque shows. Along the way, the young man and his wife come to question their fidelity and their expectations about life and one another.

The film is shot on location and the performances are very good. There is a surreal quality to the imagery that owes a tip of the hat to Federico Fellini. There is also something about the Porteguese language that is very lyrical, especially the title song that is heard throughout the film and over the end credits.

The underlying message is that freedom is not an easy thing to find. Escaping from the trappings of modern society, escaping from the trappings of your own lifestyle and the escape from the ones you love is almost impossible. None of these characters wants to be tied down, but they are tied to the desires that are at their core. They all learn from each other in the end.

This film reminds me why I have the desire to take off and see new lands where I have never been and be amazed at the unknown that I have never seen, and why in the end, I always return to my home, where I feel safe.