Brazil’s Musical Roots
From the opening scene in Helsinki, Finland, the icy landscape makes room to the countryside of Pernambuco, in Águas Belas, just outside the Indian reservation of the Fulni-Ô. Such landscape contrast begins Mika Kaurismäki’s movie Moro no Brasil. The movie is as eclectic as Brazilian music. Kaurismäki’s journey mixes samba with forró and funk, Brazil’s north and south, but it never loses its purpose to show a man’s passion for Brazilian music. The movie does an excellent job in introducing new audiences to these various genres with testimonials and live performances from various artists.
Starting with the exploration of Brazil’s musical roots in Pernambuco is a logical and most rewarding first stop. After all, it is here that we have frevo (with Antônio Nóbrega), maracatú (with Mestre Salustiano), forró (with Silvério Pessoa) and côco (with Zé Neguinho do Côco). It is no surprise that Moro no Brasil spends over 45 minutes in Pernambuco alone. Along the way, in Caruaru, the movie shows street musicians and a conversation with Silvério Pessoa (former member of the forró band Cascabulho) followed by his performance with Jacinto Silva. Forró, as Pessoa states, is “the identity of a people, as the blues is for New Orleans and jazz.” It is music that emanates from people’s lives and homes.
Another feature of Moro no Brasil is repente, one of the richest musical traditions in the northeast of Brazil. That musical form is characterized by fast exchanges between two street poets or musicians. They challenge each other improvising on a given theme. These singers, or cantadores, use historical themes, daily occurrences or even super-natural stories to sing their music.
Before arriving in Rio de Janeiro, a stop in Salvador, Bahia, focuses on candomblé, afoxé and other African influences in Brazilian music, culture and religion.Then after nearly 4,000 kilometers (about 2,500 miles) of traveling in Brazil, Kaurismäki arrives in Rio de Janeiro to talk with Walter Afaiate and other samba living legends. The meeting of the old and new values in samba is symbolized with the encounter between Walter Alfaiate and the Velha Guarda da Mangueira with Seu Jorge. And, of course, a visit to Rio de Janeiro is not complete without a visit to the first Samba School of Brazil: Mangueira. In this segment you are placed in the middle of a Mangueira rehearsal with its pounding lively percussion and infectious rhythm. Completing the full circle of percussion in Brazil, Ivo Meirelles then performs with Funk ‘n Lata, showing that the samba beat also lives in the new funk movement in Brazil.
Closing the DVD, before the credits roll, the high-energy samba funk “Moro no Brasil” plays in the background as Kaurismäki’s breathtaking images parade in front of our eyes. Musicians from all walks of life and diverse genres complete this musical odyssey introducing Brazilian music to the world. Moro no Brasil is a fine documentary that traces the roots of Brazilian music all over the country. The noticeable absence in this audio and visual ecstasy is choro. For that, you will need to check Kaurismäki’s The Sound of Rio: Brasileirinho.
The DVD is in English and Portuguese (with English subtitles) and Dolby 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo tracks. It is also in 16:9 wide screen. Bonus features include an interview with director Mika Kaurismäki (approximately 4 minutes; English subtitles) and extras about Carnaval (approximately 7 minutes) and Capoeira (approximately 2 minutes). There is also a companion CD that features the music from the movie. The CD is sold separately.
DVD INFORMATION
Moro no Brasil
DVD Milan M2-36170 (2006)
Time: 105’00”
CD Milan M2-36171 (2006)
Time: 60’42”
DVD Chapters:
- Beginning in Pernambuco
- Caruaru
- Home with Silvério Pessoa
- Recife
- Caju & Castanha
- Daruê Malungo
- Bahia
- Rio de Janeiro
- Walter Alfaiate & Seu Jorge
- Mangueira
- Ivo Meirelles
- I Live in Brazil
CD Tracks:
- Wauicá (Alemberg Quindines – Rosiane Limaverde) Alemberg Qindines, Rosiane Limaverde
- Alegria da Cidade (Jorge Portugal – Lazzo) Margareth Menezes
- Carreiro Novo (Jacinto Silva) Jacinto Silva, Silvério Pessoa
- Ritmos do Bagunçaço (Grupo Cultural Bagunçaço) Grupo Cultural Bagunçaço
- Exaltação para Mangueira (Aluísio Augusto da Costa – Enéas Brites) Velha Guarda da Mangueira
- Corisco (Lourival Oliveira) Antônio Nóbrega, Gabriel Nóbrega
- Mulher do Corno Rico e a do Corno Pobre (Téo Azevedo – Braúlio de Castro – Caju) Caju & Castanha
- Pau de Quiri (Zé Neguinho do Côco) Zé Neguinho do Côco, Silvério Pessoa
- Voar no Balão (Zé Neguinho do Côco) Zé Neguinho do Côco
- Alvorada (Cartola – Carlos Cachaça – Hermínio Bello de Carvalho) Velha Guarda da Mangueira
- A.M.O.R. (Walter Alfaiate – Mauro Duarte) Walter Alfaiate, Velha Guarda de Mangueira
- Sorrir de mim (Walter Alfaiate – Mauro Duarte) Walter Alfaiate, Velha Guarda de Mangueira
- Cirandar (Martinho da Vila – João de Aquino) Seu Jorge, Velha Guarda de Mangueira
- Juízo Final (Nélson Cavaquinho – Élcio Soares) Zenith, Velha Guarda de Mangueira
- A Voz do Morro (Zé Keti) Velha Guarda da Mangueira
- Pequinês e Pitbull (Gabriel Moura – Jovi Joviniano – Lulu Aranha) Seu Jorge, Pastoras da Mangueira
- Brasis (Gabriel Moura – Jovi Joviniano – Seu Jorge) Gabriel Moura
- Moro no Brasil (Gabriel Moura – Seu Jorge – Jovi Joviniano – Wallace Jefferson) Farofa Carioca
- Baile Funk ao Vivo:
Baile Funk (Ivo Meirelles) / Sex Machine (James Brown) / Everybody Wanna Get Funk One More Time (James Brown – Charles Bobbitt) Ivo Meirelles, Funk ‘n Lata
Bonus Tracks:
- Pra Rapaziada (João Silva – Pedro Cruz) Silvério Pessoa
- Olinda Número Um (Olinda Quero Cantar) (Clídio Nigro – Clóvis Vieira) Mestre Salustiano
