Maysa: When the Heart Sings

In the Mommie Dearest tradition, this biopic traces the career the famous Brazilian singer-composer of hits such as 'Meu mundo caiu' (My world has fallen down). As her own only son directed it, it is a partial - somewhat courageous - autobiography of filmmaker Jayme Monjardim himself. A few media commentaries have objected to the use of certain words and phrases dating from the 1960s in action occurred in 1950s. Actually, this should hardly be relevant. Computers (not PCs) already existed then, so it's alright when Maysa claims, "I haven't got a computerized memory". When Ronaldo Boscoli calls her 'cafona' and 'brega' (meaning phony and schmaltzy) that's suitable, OK dialogue too. 'Brega' is of course a word very much in vogue these days, but old timers did use to say 'Xumbrega,' of similar meaning. Maysa's brief acting career (a single TV soap opera, precisely entitled... "O cafona') has been virtually omitted in the script. Other among her many candid, hot flings (actor Nelson Xavier, for instance), ditto. But the end user must not be overall unsatisfied. The result is meritorious,though uneven. The cast of lookalikes is generally effective and the period very fairly reproduced.