After his death in 1869 Brás Cubas (Reginaldo Faria / Petrônio Gontijo), seeking to amuse himself a little in eternity, decides to narrate his memoirs and revisit the more important events of his life. He warns: “Frankness is the greatest virtue of a cadaver”.
With disconcerting sincerity Brás Cubas remembers his childhood, youth, family incidents and characters such as his friend Quincas Borba (Marcos Caruso), who from beggar turns into millionaire. He also relates his formal education in Portugal and the debatable privilege of never having to work for a living.
With equal frankness Brás Cubas invites the spectator to witness his tumulted love life. He recalls his first love, the elegant Spanish prostitute Marcela (Sonia Braga) who loved him for "15 months and 11 thousand milréis". Of his second love, the young Eugênia (Milena Toscano), he reveals that “although pretty was lame”. And his greatest love of all Virgília (Viétia Rocha), who he ended up losing to the successful politician Lobo Neves (Otávio Müller).
Dealing with day-to-day life or events of national importance, in death or life Brás Cubas alternates irony and bitterness, melancholy and good-humor without losing his levity. In any state of spirit he surprises us with his irreverent and devastating perspicuity.
Considered one of the greatest newcomers in Brazilian cinema of the 1980's, André Klotzel has worked as director, producer and screenwriter for feature and short films.
While attending Cinema Studies at ECA-USP, he directed the 16mm short films Eva, Os Deuses da Era Moderna and Os Gaviões.
He directed his first feature in 1986, Damned Meat, a wonderful tale about the typical Brazilian hick, which was selected to Cannes Critic's Week and had over 1.2 million viewers.
In 1994 he directed Savage Capitalism, sarcastically concerning the contradictions Brazil lives in.
In 1996 he was invited by the Santos City Hall to direct a commercial about the city. André delivered A Brief History about the People of Santos, gathering historical accuracy, creative boldness and humor.
In 2001 he directed Posthumous Memories, an adaptation of a classic novel by Machado de Assis, starring Reginaldo Farias. This film won five awards at Gramado Film Festival and was exhibited in eleven international film festivals, Berlin included.
His feature Reflections of a Blender was released in 2010.
Filmography
Feature Films: Damned Meat, 1986; Savage Capitalism, 1994; Posthumous Memories, 2001, Reflections of a Blender, 2010.
Short Films: Eva, 1974 (16 mm, color, 10 min); Os Deuses da Era Moderna, 1978 (16 mm, B&W, 25 min); Gaviões, 1982 (16 mm, color, 20 min); No Tempo da II Guerra, 1991 (35 mm, color, 18 min); Jaguadarte, 1994 (16 mm, color, 3 min); A Brief Story about the People of Santos, 1996 (35 mm, color, 14 min).
Reginaldo Faria
Petrônio Gontijo
Alfredo Silva
Viétia Rocha
Sonia Braga
Milena Toscano
Otávio Müller
Marcos Caruso
Stepan Nercessian
Débora Duboc
Walmor Chagas
Nilda Spencer
Ana Abott
Joana Schnitman
Director and Producer
André Klotzel
Executive Producer
Mônica Schmiedt
Delegated Producer
Production Manager
Tereza Gonzales
Screenplay by
André Klotzel
Dialogs
José Roberto Torero
Director of Photography
Pedro Farkas
Art Director
Adrian Cooper
Scenographer
Roberto Mainieri
Costumes
Marjorie Gueller
Editor
André Klotzel
Music Producer
Mario Manga
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