Moro No Brasil

The comparison of this movie with Buena Vista Social Club is way beyond my level of understanding, I must say... For me, this is a road-movie and a love declaration to brazilian music - that deserves it completely ! Period. Although one can be frustrated by the quick pace of this journey, this is another proof of how diverse brazilian music is ! Ok, some musicians have no real mesmerizing philosophical discourse during their interviews, but I view those passages as necessary - and interesting - steps to music, as it shows first of all human beeings living from and with music, and not cynical professionals as the star system can provide. Kaurismäki concludes its documentary with his decision to buy a bar in Rio where artists play every night. "Moro no Brazil", he says. Lucky man !!!

This wonderful documentary lets you enter the universe of brazilian original music, from indian traditional music in the northwest to Rio based Samba rhythms and fawela's funk blend. In pictures taken by a hand-held video camera it shows a documentary journey of Mika Kaurismäki to the different regions of Brazil. Throughout all his film, Mika manages to present the special people involved in the brazilian musical traditions. He shows the strength they had to have to go their way and the pride they feel for their musical and social accomplishment. This film shows, what music is able to give. A real "human" film.

To most of us Brazilian music is "The girl from Ipanema" and some carnival samba. This wonderful documentary manages to take us through some of its unsung origins, tracing it back to the Indian and African roots so predominant in the country's Northeast. Music is the soul of Brazil, its unifying element and the only true element that connects the country's melting pot of races. Mika Kaurismäki decides to take us through the origin of the music in Brasil and deliberately chooses to leave out the more famous Bossa Nova, born in the late fifties among the country's intellectuals. "Moro no Brasil" takes us through Forrò, Frevo, Samba through the eyes of the real Brazilian people that play the music and live with it their daily lives. We enter the favelas and dance with them. The filming is so sensitive and the camera shots so good one cannot help but feel the strong emotion the Brazilians themselves feel for their music. The social aspect of the music is also analyzed and shown to play a very important role in Brazilian less favoured society. This is a great masterpiece of a documentary. Lets hope Mika Kaurismäki will follow it up with a second part on Bossa Nova.