Black Orpheus - 1959

Black Orpheus - Released December 21, 1959. Directed by Marcel Camus

It's Carnaval time in Brazil, but with the Greek tragedy of Orfeo and Eurydice (she dies and he tries to get her back from the underworld) retold and updated as the two lovers are separated and reunited, with a propulsive Bossa Nova soundtrack.

Beautiful color photography and cinematography throughout the film, though the cast is a mixture of professional and not-professional and this shows up quite a lot. Voodoo gets thrown into the story in place of the Greek oracle, and Rio de Janeiro is the backdrop for almost everything, which is fascinating as the characters travel through markets, slums, and onto the cliffs overlooking the amazing skyline.

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Original Page July 20, 2017

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