Black Orpheus

2/12/2024

I reckon this was always going to be a bit of a creatively risky venture and for me: a Frenchman moving a Greek myth to the culturally diverse Brazil was always going to be quite an ask. It's colourful and well cast, but I am afraid the story just muddled up too many themes for me. The premiss is the same as the ancient story, with this time "Eurydice" (Marpessa Dawn) having fled her home town to avoid the unwelcome attentions of a suitor. She encounters tram driver "Orfeu" (Breno Mello) and pretty much instantly they hit it off. He serenades her with his carousing guitar music - despite the fact that he is already promised to "Mira" (Lourdes de Olivera). Guess what? "Mira" isn't too impressed with her boyfriend's philandering and when "Eurydice" goes off the grid amidst all the celebratio