Cultural Pulse 

Plays, movies &
best-seller books

PLAYS

RIO

Conversa Privada (Private Talk)—Comedy. The idea is to tell the public things that normally are only said between four walls. Series of sketches and monologues by the female group Grelo Falante (Talking Clit). Scenes are interspersed with songs and dance.

Deus Lhe Pague (May God Reward You)—Comedy. A bum gets rich by begging. Written by Joracy Camargo, directed by Paulo Afonso de Lima, with Benvido Siqueira

Copenhagen—Scientists Niels Bohr, from Denmark and German Werner Heisenberg get together to discuss the construction of the atomic bomb. Both were awarded the Nobel Price. Written by Michael Fryn, directed by Marco Antônio Rodrigues.

O Gordo e o Magro Vão para o Céu (Larry and Hardy Go to Heaven)—A couple and their adventures to build a wall. Written by Paul Auster. With Isabel Cavalcanti and Ronaldo Serruya.

Bugiaria—João Cointa and his misadventures before the Inquisition. Considered the best play by the jury of respected Governo do Estado award. Written and directed by Moacir Chaves, with Orã Figueiredo, Cláudio Baltar and Cândido Dam.

Sermão da Quarta-Feira de Cinzas (Ash Wednesday Sermon)—Preacher Padre Antônio Vieira (1608-1697) tries in seven different ways to prove that the only truth we can be sure of is that we all will die one day. Text from Padre Antônio Vieira, directed by Moacir Chave, with Pedro Paulo Rangel and Josie Antello.

Da Arte de Subir em Telhados (The Art of Escalating Roofs)—A group of friends reminisce about good and bad times. The setting of the play has been praised by the Brazilian media. Written by Paulo de Moraes and Maurício Arruda Mendonça, directed by Paulo de Moraes, with Patrícia Selonk and Simone Mazzer.

Crimes Delicados (Delicate Crimes)—A couple will not stop at anything to kill their woman servant. Written by José Antônio de Souza, directed by Antônio Abujamra, with Nicette Bruno, Paulo Goulart and Bárbara Bruno Goulart.

SÃO PAULO

Agreede - O Pé Esquerdo da Jornalista (The Newswoman's Left Foot)—Drama. Written directed and interpreted by Jair Alves. After winning the fight against a serious disease, a woman journalist goes back to work to face corruption.

Carine—Drama. A jailed commander accused of slave and weapon trafficking has only one hour to live when he receives the visit of someone telling he is going to write his biography. Written by Guil Branco, directed by Renato Kramer, with Renato Kramer and Guil Branco.

As Mais Fortes (The Strongest Women)—Three high school friends get together to party after being apart for more than a decade. They end making unexpected revelations. Written by Cláudia Vasconcelos, directed by Jairo Matos, Alessandra Thomazini, Keila Taschini, Rosângela Frasão and Verônica Mello.

Eu Falo o Que Elas Querem Ouvir (I Say What Women Want to Hear) Comedy. Politicians kidnaps a theater director so he can help him win the election. Written by Mário Prata, directed by Roberto Lage, with Paulo Gorgulho, Javert Monteiro, Ângelo Paes Leme and Maria Clara Fernandes.

A Mulher Macaco (The Ape Woman)—Written by Paulo Faria. A fortuneteller comes to a circus and makes amazing revelations about the past of Cida, the Ape Woman. Written and directed by Paulo Faria, with Daniel Alvim, Eliseu Paranhos and Sílvia Borges.

Patty Diphusa—From Pedro Almodóvar book of same name. The tale of an insomniac pornostar who spends her nights writing her memories made mainly of hilarious and bizarre sex fantasies. Adapted by Christiane Tricerri who also has the role of Patty.

Morte e Vida Severina (Severino Death and Life)—Adapted by Rossini Castro from the poem of João Cabral de Melo Neto of same name. Northeastern migrant Severino runs way from the drought and ends up in a slum. With Fábrica Vivas, João Miller and Edna Lima.

Qualquer Gato Vira-Lata Tem uma Vida Sexual Mais Sadia Que a Nossa (Any Stray Cat Has a Healthier Sexual Life than Ours)—Girl asks a scientist to help her get back her fiancé. Written by Juca de Oliveira, directed by Bibi Ferreira, with Rita Guedes, Thierry Figueira and André Garolli.

Eles Preferem as Loiras (They Prefer Blondes)—Comedy. Monologue in which Maria Antonia, an unhappy and lonely black woman, has a radical change of life when an odd disease makes her skin white. As a blonde she wins a beauty contest, know success and gets two lovers. Written by Zezeh Barbosa and Betina Boop. Zezeh Barbosa interprets Maria Antônia, the play's heroine. Directed by Ângela Barros.

Masterclass—Tratado Geral da Comédia (Masterclass—General Treaty of Comedy)—A scholar talks about comedy theory when he is interrupted by characters from other comedies and a stage hand who becomes furious. Written by Luis Alberto de Abreu, directed by Ednaldo Freire, with Fraternal Companhia de Artes e Malas-Artes theater troupe.
 

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MOVIES

Just-released or re-released American movies:

A Cartada Final (The Score), A Conspiração (The Contender), A Enfermeira Betty (Nurse Betty), A Fuga das Galinhas (Chicken Run), A.I. - Inteligência Artificial (A.I. Artificial Intelligence), Amnésia (Memento), Atlantis: O Reino Perdido (Atlantis: The Lost Empire), Como Cães e Gatos (Cats and Dogs), Feliz Coincidência (Happy Accidents), Final Fantasy (Final Fantasy), Hora do Recreio (School's Out), Hora do Rush 2 (Rush Hour 2), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (Tomb Raider), Moulin Rouge - Amor Em Vermelho (Moulin Rouge), O Barato de Grace (Saving Grace), O Dia do Terror (Valentine), O Diário de Bridget Jones (Bridget Jone's Diary), Olhar de Anjo (Angel Eyes), Olhos Famintos (Jeepers Creepers), Os Outros (The Others), Os Queridinhos da América (America's Sweethearts), Pecado Original (Original Sin), Refém do Silêncio (Don't Say a Word), Replicante (Replicant), Requiém Para um Sonho (Requiem for a Dream), Ricos, Bonitos e Infiéis (Town & Country), Rugrats em Paris - Os Anjinhos (Rugrats In Paris: The Movie), Shrek (Shrek), Todo Mundo em Pânico 2 (Scary Movie 2), Velozes e Furiosos (The Fast and the Furious)

Bufo & Spallanzani (Bufo & Spallanzani)—Brazil/2000—Directed by Flávio R. Tambellini, with Tony Ramos, José Mayer, Isabel Guéron, Maitê Proença. Based on Rubens Fonseca's novel. Ivan, an insurance inspector, doesn't believe when one of his clients shows up dead. He thinks the policy holder ingested a poison extracted from a frog that makes him look like a dead person.

O Xangô de Baker Street (Baker Street's Xangô)—Brazil/1999—Sherlock Homes and his sidekick Watson travel to Rio during the Brazilian Empire to help solve a crime that occurred in Rio de Janeiro. Based on Jô Soares's book of same name. Directed by Miguel Faria Jr, Joaquim de Almeida, Anthony O'Donnell, Maria de Medeiros and Marco Nanini.

Memórias Póstumas (Posthumous Memoirs)—Brazil/Portugal, 2000—An adaptation of Machado de Assis's Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas. Already dead, Brás Cubas tells about his adventurous and sad life filled with passion and money problems. By André Klotzel, with Marcos Caruso, Walmor Chagas, Sônia Braga, Milena Toscano, Viétia Rocha, and Otávio Müller. See www.memoriaspostumas.com.br

Copacabana—Brazil/2001—The theme: old age in the most famous beach of Brazil: Copacabana. Alberto, an old photographer getting ready to celebrate his 90^th birthday, reminisces about his past. By Carla Camurati, with Marco Nanini, Ida Gomes, Myrian Pires and Laura Cardoso.

Tainá—Uma Aventura na Amazônia (Tainá—An Adventure in the Amazon)—Brazil/2000—Indian girl Tainá lives in the Amazon with her little monkey Katu. Some smugglers give her a hard time trying to get her animal. By Tânia Lamarca and Sérgio Bloch, with Eunice Baía, Jairo Mattos and Caio Romei.

O Grilo Feliz (The Happy Cricket)—Brazil/2001—Cartoon. Grilo Feliz cannot be the joy of the party anymore when lizard Maledeto decides to steal his guitar. By Walbercy Ribs
 

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BEST-SELLER BOOKS

FICTION

1. Harry Potter e a Pedra Filosofal (Rocco) J.K. Rowling

2. Baudolino (Record) Umberto Eco

3. Harry Potter e a Câmara Secreta (Rocco) J.K. Rowling

4. Harry Potter e o Cálice de Fogo (Rocco) J.K. Rowling

5. O Diário de Bridget Jones (Record) Helen Fielding

6. O Senhor dos Anéis _ edição completa (Martins Fontes) J.R.R. Tolkien

7. Harry Potter e o Prisioneiro de Azkaban (Rocco) J.K. Rowling

8. As Mentiras Que os Homens Contam (Objetiva) Luis Fernando Veríssimo

9. Artemis Fowl, O Menino Prodígio do Crime (Record) Eoin Colfer

10. As Mil e Uma Noites (Ediouro) Antoine Galland

NONFICTION

1. Um Dia Daqueles (Sextante) Bradley Trevor Greive

2. Querida Mamãe Obrigado por Tudo (Sextante) Bradley Trevor Greive

3. Jack Definitivo (Campus) Jack Welch

4. Arte da Felicidade (Martins Fontes) Dalai Lama

5. Quem Mexeu no Meu Queijo? (Record) Spencer Johnson

6. Semente da Vitória (Senac) Nuno Cobra

7. Os Cem Segredos das Pessoas Felizes (Sextante) David Niven

8. Pelo Amor ou Pela Dor (Caminheiros) Ricky Medeiros

9. Dicionário Houaiss da Língua Portuguesa (Objetiva) Antonio Houaiss

10. Você: A Alma do Negócio (Gente) Roberto Shinyashiki

According to IstoÉ Gente, http://www.terra.com.br/istoegente/

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