This is another Criterion title where I don't understand why it is considered "one of the most important films of our time."

This film is set in Brazil during Carnival. Obviously, the pagentry of Carnival makes the movie extremely visually appealing. Moreover, the Brazilian music (particularly the Samba music) and drumbeats that appear to last throughout the movie make it an interesting one to watch.

But the movie itself seems only OK. Moreover, the allegory of the modified classic story of Orpheus and Eurydice is ham-handed, at best. So, why is this movie considered a classic? I'm trying to understand the motivations of Janus films, as I assume that they are actually trying to publish important films, like they say, and not publish only those movies that nobody else wants, so that they can get the rights.

What is it about "Black Orpheus" that makes it a great film?

You could have this debate about any film. I know people that can't stand Citizen Kane or Casablanca. If a film like Black Orpheus doesn't seem good to you then thats it and its certainly okay not to like it. We are all diferent. However, many people do consider this film a classic and Janus was right in bringing it into the collection. It has great visuals and great music and the acting and directing are very sharp. I believe it won an Oscar for Best Foreign film, so this is by no means a film no one wanted.

I'm no expert on this film and my girlfriend wasn't really into it, but I have to sayi enjoyed it a lot. It sort of shares a rough around the edges quality with some films that I like a lot, like The Harder They Come, which Criterion is also putting out. Sure the story, the acting, the dialog is a bit rough, but I think it dds up to more than the sum of its parts. The atmosphere, visuals, music, and attitude really work for me. I don't know if it is an all-time favorite, but I'm definitly glad I own it.


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buskerdog.com

This movie deserves its classic status, if for no other reason than it introduced much of the world to the music of Antonio Carlos Jobin, one of the great popular composers of the 20th Century (I'd put him with Gershwin and Ellington).

For me, the charm of the movie is not so much in the translation of the Orpheus Legend, but in the infectious music and atmosphere of Carnival.

If my memory serves me, all of the actors were unknowns. I lived in Brazil for a few years and this movie brings back many great memories. Besides the music and background of carnaval, the characters all remind me of actual people and friends that I met in Brazil. The actions and reactions of the characters may seem a little exaggerated when seen from an American perspective, but I found them accurate and true to the people and the culture.

But, as was already mentioned, it's standing as a "classic" is completely relative. For me, its well deserving of this label.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cwburch:
This movie deserves its classic status, if for no other reason than it introduced much of the world to the music of Antonio Carlos Jobin, one of the great popular composers of the 20th Century (I'd put him with Gershwin and Ellington).
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well said!

Antonia Carlos Jobim is one of the greatest composers ever!

This movie introduced "bosa nova" to the entire world!

And you can't really critisize the acting in the movie! The acting is really good! Some of you guys are unfairly mistaking its dated acting style and pacing for "bad acting".
Its not! Its just an earlier style of acting and pacing! If this is bad acting (and its not...) you might as well say that the acting in Seven Samurai, Seventh Seal, Casablanca, and Gone with the Wind is bad acting.
All older movies have a pacing that seems a little awkward compared to contemporary ones! I suppose after some of you watched the movie, that you resumed your mighty quests to load Quake II onto your commodore 64.

Furthermore, "Black Orpheus" is a lyrical fantasy; it isn't attempting gritty realism.

"Black Orpheus" is a film that I ran to buy! I will admit though, that its a film that my friends run to avoid when I pop it in the player. (To be fair, a lot of my friends did like it...) I got the same response from Seven Samurai, Seventh Seal and anything else without "exploding android teenage dinosaur-girls from Mars."

This is not to say that I'm above watching Teenage Dinosaur-girls from Mars... I love those kinds of movies, too. But harsh criticism of this film could only come from the misunderstanding its context.

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