BLACK ORPHEUS

THIS IS A JEWEL OF INTERNATIONAL CINEMA. IT IS THE ANCIENT GREEK TRAGEDY OF ORPHEUS, SET IN MODERN TIMES IN THE CITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, DURING THE CARNIVAL SEASON. IT IS ALSO A TRAGIC LOVE STORY AMONG POOR PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE "FAVELAS", SHANTY TOWNS THAT SPRAWL UP THE HILLS SURROUNDING THE CITY OF RIO. THE FILM EVEN SHOWS AN ANCESTRAL RELIGIOUS RITUAL, BROUGHT FROM AFRICA BY SLAVES. THE FILM IS FROM 1959 BUT FAVELAS HAVE NOT CHANGED MUCH DURING ALL THESE YEARS.