Name: Semana de Arte Moderna
Genre: Documentary
Duration: 51 min
Cast: Cid Moreira, Di Cavalcanti, Zé Celso

An informative special on the Modern Art Week of 1922

A lukewarm but positive historical register from Globo Repórter, directed by filmmaker Geraldo Sarno, in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Modern Art Week of 1922 with interviews with the surviving artists who were part of the artistic movement that changed the state of art of that period and there's also interviews with the new wave of artists who, in one way or another were inspired by such movement and such artists thus creating new forms of art in the late 1960's and early 1970's.

Literature, plastic arts, among others went through a revolutionary state of evolution and break of conventions and rules in 1922 during those couple of days of February 1922, in São Paulo but the event itself wasn't seen with good eyes by the reviewers of the period yet it went on to grew on the popular collective in time. Today we bow to the likes of Oswald de Andrade, Menoti Del Picchia, Tarsila do Amaral, Di Cavalcanti and many others with their creations but then it was considered a crazed experience that failed to impress in its totality. And when Mr. Sarno goes to interview the common people on the street to find out if they know anything about the event, not a single person can explain what it was or why it was important. And that's a huge problem - I was shaking my head because not even senior citizens could tell a thing or two about it, it's like no one gave a damn and it also gives the impression that art is disposable if no audience is experimenting it except those with pretensions and intentions of becoming artists themselves.

Seeing Tarsila in one of her final interviews, or Di Cavalcanti sharing their thoughts and memories about the event is a pure delight; and also the then 1970's artists such as director Guilherme de Almeida Prado (who made "Macunaíma", adapted from modernist writer Mário de Andrade), Caetano and Gil, and theatre director Zé Celso (who staged "O Rei Da Vela" by Oswald de Andrade) sharing the importance the movement had in their creations was also interesting to follow. But near the end it becomes a quite tiring experience since most scenes from plays and performances get presented without a proper context, quite very random.

Nonetheless, for those curious about how the Modern Art Week was viewed many decades later and how we can judge that and the views from the 1970's is a quite unique and informative experience. 6/10.

Portuguese-language cinema, spanning Portugal, Brazil, and other Lusophone regions, focuses on history, cultural identity, and the struggles of ordinary people, often framed with poetic or allegorical storytelling. In Portugal, cinema has emphasized meditative pacing and philosophical depth, reflecting on memory and tradition. In Brazil, it has often been politically charged and socially vibrant, highlighting inequality and resilience while experimenting with popular and avant-garde forms.

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The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

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During the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Modern Art Week of 1922, this TV special from "Globo Repórter" interviewed some of the greatest artists from the modern art movement and made a parallel with the avant-garde movements of the late 1960's, which were influenced by their works.

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Semana de Arte Moderna

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