Brazilian cinema in the 2000s
by micilo | created - 17 Apr 2011 | updated - 21 May 2011 | PublicIn 1990 Brazilian president Fernando Collor de Mello closed Embrafilme, an state-owned agency created in 1969 to fund national cinema. After that, productions almost reached zero 'till mid 90s, when the so called "Retomada" (Reconquest) began. The 2000s symbolizes more a maturity period than a film school like Cinema Novo. This is an open list about the most representative titles from these years. Suggestions are welcome.
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1. Elite Squad 2: The Enemy Within (2010)
Not Rated | 115 min | Action, Crime, Drama
After a prison riot, former-Captain Nascimento, now a high ranking security officer in Rio de Janeiro, is swept into a bloody political dispute that involves government officials and paramilitary groups.
Director: José Padilha | Stars: Wagner Moura, Irandhir Santos, André Ramiro, Milhem Cortaz
Votes: 86,804 | Gross: $0.10M
2. Reflections of a Blender (2010)
80 min | Comedy, Thriller
Elvira's blender tells her story with her husband, Onofre, who's gone missing, and makes reflections about life.
Director: André Klotzel | Stars: Ana Lúcia Torre, Germano Haiut, Selton Mello, Fabiula Nascimento
Votes: 1,030
3. The Best Things in the World (2010)
100 min | Comedy, Drama
Mano has to deal with adolescence dilemmas and his family destruction, after his father leaves their house.
Director: Laís Bodanzky | Stars: Francisco Miguez, Denise Fraga, Fiuk, Zécarlos Machado
Votes: 1,659
4. Lula, the Son of Brazil (2009)
Not Rated | 130 min | Biography, Drama, History
The true story of a working-class boy who moves to the nation's financial capital at a young age and becomes one of the most influential politicians in Brazil's history.
Directors: Fábio Barreto, Marcelo Santiago | Stars: Rui Ricardo Diaz, Glória Pires, Juliana Baroni, Cleo
Votes: 3,088
5. Before the World Ends (2009)
104 min | Drama, Family
The countryside of Rio Grande do Sul, and high-school student, Daniel, spends a normal adolescence life with his family, studying, riding his bicycle, playing games on the Internet and ... See full summary »
Director: Ana Luiza Azevedo | Stars: Eduardo Cardoso, Murilo Grossi, Caroline Guedes, Bianca Menti
Votes: 319
6. Viajo Porque Preciso, Volto Porque te Amo (2009)
Not Rated | 75 min | Drama
A geologist is sent to an isolated region in the Northeast of Brazil to survey water sources, but begins to feel a a sense of abandonment and loneliness.
Directors: Karim Aïnouz, Marcelo Gomes | Star: Irandhir Santos
Votes: 1,179
7. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (2009)
89 min | Drama, Romance, Thriller
In São Paulo, the lonely forty and something year-old guitar teacher Baby lives a tedious life in a low middle-class apartment and is addicted in her only companion, the cigarettes. She has... See full summary »
Director: Anna Muylaert | Stars: Glória Pires, Paulo Miklos, Alessandra Colassanti, Dani Nefussi
Votes: 627
8. Se Nada Mais Der Certo (2008)
120 min | Drama
2006. Léo (Cauã Reymond) is a freelance journalist covering events for newspaper outside São Paulo, the city where he lives. He is in serious financial problems worsened due to payment ... See full summary »
Director: José Eduardo Belmonte | Stars: Cauã Reymond, Caroline Abras, João Miguel, Luiza Mariani
Votes: 284
9. Última Parada 174 (2008)
Unrated | 110 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A chronicle of a real-life bus hijacking in Rio de Janeiro that occurred on June 12, 2000.
Director: Bruno Barreto | Stars: Michel Gomes, Cris Vianna, Marcello Melo Jr., Gabriela Luiz
Votes: 5,582
10. Linha de Passe (2008)
113 min | Drama, Sport
A story about four brothers from a poor family who need to fight to follow their dreams.
Directors: Walter Salles, Daniela Thomas | Stars: Sandra Corveloni, João Baldasserini, Vinícius de Oliveira, Geraldo Rodrigues
Votes: 2,908
11. The Dead Girl's Feast (2008)
115 min | Drama
Santinho is a young man considered to be a saint after performing a miracle following his mother's suicide, in a riverside community in the Alto Amazonas.
Director: Matheus Nachtergaele | Stars: Daniel de Oliveira, Juliano Cazarré, Jackson Antunes, Ednelsa Sahdo
Votes: 455
12. Meu Nome Não é Johnny (2008)
124 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The true story of João Guilherme Estrella ("Johnny"), a young middle-class bon vivant who became a big-time cocaine dealer in Rio de Janeiro in the early 1990s.
Director: Mauro Lima | Stars: Selton Mello, Giulio Lopes, Júlia Lemmertz, Felipe Severo
Votes: 7,851
13. Valsa para Bruno Stein (2007)
95 min | Drama
A poetic film about the relationship of three generations that share the same house and the re-find of love between a man and a woman that didn't believe in a new love.
Director: Paulo Nascimento | Stars: Walmor Chagas, Araci Esteves, Ingra Lyberato, Leonardo Machado
Votes: 138
14. Chega de Saudade (2007)
95 min | Drama, Musical, Romance
In an old-time dance hall (the "gafieira") in São Paulo, one evening is all it takes to meet different characters as they remember the past, live the present, wonder about the future, have fun, flirt, fight and, naturally, dance.
Director: Laís Bodanzky | Stars: Leonardo Villar, Tônia Carrero, Cássia Kis, Betty Faria
Votes: 504
15. Mutum (2007)
95 min | Drama
Thiago lives with his family on an isolated farm in the arid backlands of Minas Gerais, Brazil. As the story unfolds and Thiago is forced to confront separations and betrayal within the ... See full summary »
Director: Sandra Kogut | Stars: Thiago da Silva Mariz, Wallison Felipe Leal Barroso, Maria Juliana Souza de Oliveira, Brenda Luana Rodrigues Lima
Votes: 564
16. Ainda Orangotangos (2007)
81 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
The film tells the story of sixteen people in the hottest day of the year in the city of Porto Alegre.
Director: Gustavo Spolidoro | Stars: Karina Kazue, Lindon Satoru Shimizu, Artur Pinto, Kayodê Silva
Votes: 184
17. 3 Efes (2007)
100 min | Drama
Sissi, the young daughter of an unemployed widower, struggles to support her family, while dreams of sharing an apartment with her boyfriend, a soccer player. Martina, who has a more stable... See full summary »
Director: Carlos Gerbase | Stars: Júlio Andrade, Nilsson Asp, Carla Cassapo, Fábio Cunha
Votes: 110
18. Elite Squad (2007)
R | 115 min | Action, Crime, Drama
In 1997 Rio de Janeiro, Captain Nascimento has to find a substitute for his position while trying to take down drug dealers and criminals before the Pope visits.
Director: José Padilha | Stars: Wagner Moura, André Ramiro, Caio Junqueira, Milhem Cortaz
Votes: 110,341 | Gross: $0.01M
19. Camila Jam (2007)
120 min | Drama
The story of Camila, a young woman intent on becoming a writer.
Director: Murilo Salles | Stars: Leandra Leal, Frank Borges, Luciano Bortoluzzi, Luciana Brites
Votes: 540
20. The Year My Parents Went on Vacation (2006)
PG | 110 min | Drama
A boy is left alone in a Jewish neighborhood in 1970, when the World Cup coincides with political crackdowns by the military dictatorship.
Director: Cao Hamburger | Stars: Michel Joelsas, Germano Haiut, Daniela Piepszyk, Paulo Autran
Votes: 6,660 | Gross: $0.76M
21. Angels of the Sun (2006)
92 min | Drama
In 2002, 12-year-old Maria, living in dire poverty with her family, is sold by her fisherman father to prostitute recruiter Seu Tadeu, who takes her to a low-class brothel in the Amazon ... See full summary »
Director: Rudi Lagemann | Stars: Antonio Calloni, Otávio Augusto, Darlene Glória, Vera Holtz
Votes: 1,128
22. Wood & Stock: Sexo, Orégano e Rock'n'Roll (2006)
TV-MA | 81 min | Animation, Comedy, Music
The story of two die-hard hippies, trying to live on today's world.
Director: Otto Guerra | Stars: Júlio Andrade, José Vitor Castiel, Michele Frantz, Rita Lee
Votes: 522
23. O Cheiro do Ralo (2006)
Not Rated | 112 min | Comedy, Drama
A pawn shop proprietor buys used goods from desperate locals--as much to play perverse power games as for his own livelihood, but when the perfect rump and a backed-up toilet enter his life, he loses all control.
Director: Heitor Dhalia | Stars: Selton Mello, Paula Braun, Paulo Alves, Suzana Alves
Votes: 5,513
24. Love for Sale (2006)
Not Rated | 90 min | Drama
In order to get funds, a young woman living in the Northeast of Brazil decides to raffle her own body.
Director: Karim Aïnouz | Stars: Hermila Guedes, Maria Menezes, Zezita Matos, João Miguel
Votes: 2,110 | Gross: $0.01M
25. Gaijin - Ama-me Como Sou (2005)
131 min | Drama, Romance
In 1908, Titoe leaves her country, Japan, to try her luck in Brazil. Her intention is just to get rich and return in five years. But life has other plans for her.
Director: Tizuka Yamasaki | Stars: Tamlyn Tomita, Jorge Perugorría, Aya Ono, Louise Cardoso
Votes: 86
26. Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures (2005)
99 min | Adventure, Drama
A road movie about a German man who went to the Northeast of Brazil in 1942 to sell Aspirin.
Director: Marcelo Gomes | Stars: João Miguel, Peter Ketnath, Madalena Accioly, Jeane Alves
Votes: 3,052
27. O Signo do Caos (2005)
80 min | Drama
In the B&W first part, a customs agent, Dr. Amnésio, examines some reels of film, a documentary Orson Welles made about Brazil, and tries to confiscate the material. The color second part shows a party in which those repression agents celebrate their victory against freedom and creativity.
Director: Rogério Sganzerla | Stars: Eduardo Cabús, Sálvio do Prado, Giovanna Gold, Helena Ignez
Votes: 171
28. Árido Movie (2005)
100 min | Drama
Weatherman from a TV network goes back to his hometown, Vale da Rocha, a place in Northeast Brazil, devastated by the drought. He is forced to face the geographic elements and his own memories.
Director: Lírio Ferreira | Stars: Guilherme Weber, Giulia Gam, José Dumont, Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos
Votes: 568
29. Meu Tio Matou um Cara (2004)
87 min | Adventure, Comedy
A boy tries to help his uncle prove his innocence in a murder case. He thinks his uncle has confessed the crime as a cover-up for his girlfriend, who was the dead man's wife, so he starts a... See full summary »
Director: Jorge Furtado | Stars: Darlan Cunha, Sophia Reis, Lázaro Ramos, Deborah Secco
Votes: 2,976
30. Olga (2004)
141 min | Biography, Drama, History
Based upon the true story of Olga Benário, the German-born wife of Brazilian communist leader Luís Carlos Prestes. During the dictatorship of Getúlio Vargas (1930-1945) she was arrested and... See full summary »
Director: Jayme Monjardim | Stars: Camila Morgado, Caco Ciocler, Luís Melo, Eliane Giardini
Votes: 3,647
31. The Man Who Copied (2003)
R | 124 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
A Brazilian photocopier operator falls in love with a girl who lives in an opposite house and spends his evenings looking at her through his binoculars.
Director: Jorge Furtado | Stars: Lázaro Ramos, Leandra Leal, Luana Piovani, Pedro Cardoso
Votes: 11,245 | Gross: $0.02M
32. Lisbela and the Prisoner (2003)
106 min | Comedy, Romance
This is the fun story of the mischievous, adventurous and conquering Leléu and the dreamy Lisbela, who loves watching American movies and dreams of movie heroes.
Director: Guel Arraes | Stars: André Mattos, Aramis Trindade, Bruno Garcia, Carlos Casagrande
Votes: 6,993
33. Carandiru (2003)
R | 145 min | Crime, Drama
Stories of crime, revenge, love, and friendship at the Carandiru Penitentiary, the largest prison in Latin America.
Director: Hector Babenco | Stars: Enrique Diaz, Wagner Moura, Caio Blat, Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos
Votes: 21,945 | Gross: $0.21M
34. Madame Satã (2002)
Unrated | 105 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Loose portrait of João Francisco dos Santos, also known as Madame Satã, a sometime chef, transvestite, lover, father, hero and convict from Rio de Janeiro.
Director: Karim Aïnouz | Stars: Lázaro Ramos, Marcelia Cartaxo, Flavio Bauraqui, Fellipe Marques
Votes: 3,154 | Gross: $0.20M
35. The Trespasser (2001)
97 min | Drama, Thriller
Two businessmen hire a hitman to kill their third partner and are then blackmailed by the hitman as he takes over their company.
Director: Beto Brant | Stars: Marco Ricca, Alexandre Borges, Paulo Miklos, Mariana Ximenes
Votes: 1,860
36. Amarelo Manga (2002)
TV-MA | 103 min | Drama
Short stories revolving around a bar and a hotel in Recife, unveil a mosaic of exotic characters living in the Brazilian underground.
Director: Cláudio Assis | Stars: Matheus Nachtergaele, Jonas Bloch, Leona Cavalli, Dira Paes
Votes: 2,446
37. Durval Discos (2002)
Not Rated | 96 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
Durval and his mother Carmita live at the back of "Durval Discos", a record store they own in São Paulo, specializing in vinyl records. They lead a boring and unattractive life, until the ... See full summary »
Director: Anna Muylaert | Stars: Ary França, Etty Fraser, Isabela Guasco, Marisa Orth
Votes: 1,264
38. Houve uma Vez Dois Verões (2002)
75 min | Comedy, Romance
A coming of age dramatic comedy dealing with the effect that two "summers" have on the lives of several teenagers. The main story involves an innocent teenage boy and a conniving teenage ... See full summary »
Director: Jorge Furtado | Stars: André Arteche, Ana Maria Mainieri, Pedro Furtado, Júlia Barth
Votes: 803
39. City of God (2002)
R | 130 min | Crime, Drama
In the slums of Rio, two kids' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin.
Directors: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund | Stars: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Matheus Nachtergaele, Phellipe Haagensen
Votes: 801,400 | Gross: $7.56M
40. To the Left of the Father (2001)
Not Rated | 163 min | Drama
A young son who ran from his dominant family descends into decadence, then returns to the nest. Tyrannical fathers, incest, fierce family conflicts, and an intense visual style to match.
Director: Luiz Fernando Carvalho | Stars: Selton Mello, Raul Cortez, Juliana Carneiro da Cunha, Simone Spoladore
Votes: 2,050
41. Netto Perde Sua Alma (2001)
102 min | Action, Drama, War
The story of a man that invented a country.
Directors: Tabajara Ruas, Beto Souza | Stars: Werner Schünemann, Laura Schneider, Sirmar Antunes, Bebeto Alves
Votes: 193
42. Bicho de Sete Cabeças (2000)
74 min | Drama
A trip to the mental institution hell. This odyssey is lived by Neto, a middle class teenager, who lives a normal life until his father sends him to a mental institution after finding drugs... See full summary »
Director: Laís Bodanzky | Stars: Rodrigo Santoro, Othon Bastos, Cássia Kis, Dani Nefussi
Votes: 6,374
43. Behind the Sun (2001)
PG-13 | 105 min | Drama
When ordered by his father to avenge the death of his older brother, a young man questions the tradition of violence between two rival families.
Director: Walter Salles | Stars: José Dumont, Rodrigo Santoro, Rita Assemany, Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos
Votes: 7,405 | Gross: $0.06M
44. A Dog's Will (2000)
104 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Follows the lives of 2 poor Brazilians and their schemes to get money and the consequences of their actions.
Director: Guel Arraes | Stars: Matheus Nachtergaele, Selton Mello, Rogério Cardoso, Denise Fraga
Votes: 16,905
45. Tolerance (2000)
100 min | Drama, Thriller
Director: Carlos Gerbase | Stars: Maitê Proença, Roberto Bomtempo, Ana Maria Mainieri, Maria Ribeiro
Votes: 512
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