Ana Rieper | Brazil | 2011 | 78’ | In Portuguese | English subtitles
For many living in north-eastern Brazil life is tough. Sexual and domestic violence, crime and oppression of women are more common than elsewhere in Brazil. This is the region where ‘música brega’ is especially popular, truly romantic cheesy songs that speak of an authentic life philosophy. As in every good tear-jerker, the música brega songs are not only about love’s tragedies, but also zoom in on crime, (homo)sexuality and poverty. In short, every aspect of daily life figures in them.
Música brega is hugely popular, annually millions of CDs and DVDs are sold, but Brazil’s (cultural) elite still looks down on it and most books on Brazilian music don’t even devote a chapter on it.
For director Ana Rieper, born in Rio de Janeiro, this was reason enough to make a documentary about this musical phenomenon. During her stay in Aracaju, the capitol of Sergipe in the northeast of Brazil, she noticed how omnipresent música brega is in this small Brazilian state. The film of course features lots of music, for example by Agnaldo Timóteo, Amado Batista, Lindomar Castilho and Rodrigo Mell.
Screenings:
THU 9 AUG - 21:30 | 
MON 13 AUG - 17:15 |
