Plays, movies &
best-seller books

PLAYS

RIO

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

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.

7 Dias em 2000 (Seven Days in 2000)—Comedy. A grandmother is caught by surprise by the arrival of her young granddaughter who was sent away from home because the parents were having money troubles after overextending their credit card limits. Written and directed by Jair Alves, with Javert Monteiro, Beatriz Campos and Theodora Ribeiro.

Ovelhas Negras (Black Sheep)—Based in texts written by writer Caio Fernando Abreu who died from AIDS in 1996. The play portrays an artist who finds to be HIV positive. Directed by Pedro Cardillo and Claudia Schapira, with César Guiraro and Eduardo Estrela.

Pavilhão 5 (Pavilion No. 5)—A teacher becomes involved in a rebellion inside a reformatory for youngsters when she is visiting her student who was detained. Written and directed by Reinaldo Maia, with Gisele Valeri and Fernando Paz.

MOVIES

 Just-released American movies:

Tailor of Panama (O Alfaiate do Panamá), Moulin Rouge (The Moulin Rouge—Amor em Vermelho), Down to Earth (O Céu Pode Esperar),  Tomcats (Gatos numa Roubada), Driven (Alta Velocidade),  Atlantis: The Lost Empire (Atlantis—O Reino Perdido), Saving Grance (O Barato de Grace), Bridget Jones's Diary (O Diário de Bridget Jones),  Sweet November (Doce Novembro), Dr. Dolittle 2 (Dr. Dolittle 2), Fast Food, Fast Women (Fast Food, Fast Women), Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (Final Fantasy), Jurassic Park III (Jurassic Park III), Onegin (Paixão Proibida), Planet of the Apes (Planeta dos Macacos),  One Night at McCool's (Que Mulher É Essa?),  Swordfish (A Senha: Swordfish), Shrek (Shrek), See Spot Run (Spot, Um Cão da Pesada), Thirteen Days (Treze Dias Que Abalaram o Mundo)

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 then 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

O Sonho de Rose, 10 Anos Depois (Rose’s Dream, 10 Years Later)—Brazil/2000—Documentary. By Tetê Moraes. The director, in 1987, filmed the story of Roseli da Silva, who with many other families had occupied the Annoni farm in Rio Grande do Sul. This new movie shows the family da Silva, after the matriarch’s death. They lost their lot and moved to a city close to the farm.

Bicho de Sete Cabeças (Seven-Head Beast or Puzzle)—Brazil/Switzerland/Italy/2000—Drama. A rebel student is sent to a mental institution by his father when he starts smoking pot and tagging walls. Based on autobiographical Canto dos Malditos, a book by Austregésilo Carrano Bueno. Directed by Laís Bodanzky with Rodrigo Santoro, Othon Bastos, Cássia Kiss, Gero Camilo, Altair Lima and Caco Ciocler.

BEST-SELLER BOOKS

FICTION

1. Histórias para Pais, Filhos e Netos (Globo) Paulo Coelho

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

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

4. As Mentiras que os Homens Contam (Objetiva) Luis Fernando Veríssimo

5. Senhor dos Anéis — edição completa (Martins Fontes) Tolkien J.R.R.

6. Senhor dos Anéis — A Sociedade do Anel (Martins Fontes) Tolkien J.R.R.

7. Comédias para se Ler na Escola (Objetiva) Luis Fernando Veríssimo

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

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

10 Os Cem Melhores Poemas Brasileiros do Século (Objetiva) Italo Moriconi

NONFICTION

1. Um Dia Daqueles (Sextante) Bradley Trevor Greive

2. Semente da Vitória (Senac) Nuno Cobra

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

4. Palavras de Sabedoria (Sextante) Dalai Lama

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

6. Arte da Felicidade (Martins Fontes) Dalai Lama

7. Ninguém É de Ninguém (Caminheiros) Zíbia Gasparetto

8. Investimentos, Como Administrar Melhor ... (Fundamento) Mauro Halfeld

9. Estação Carandiru (Cia. das Letras) Drauzio Varella

10. Histórias para Aquecer o Coração (Sextante) Jack Canfield

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

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