José Maria Alves, Kirill Mikhanovsky, Francisco César Filho and Carlos Bolado
Similarities Attract Foreign Eye
Carlos Bolado and Kirill Mikhanovsky spoke about their ideas in the debate The Foreign Eye over Brazil that took place last Friday, the 27th, at Mostra’s Lounge on the 6th floor of Shopping Frei Caneca. The debate was mediated by journalist Francisco César Filho, and José Maria Alves, the leading actor of Sonhos de Peixe, was also present.Similarities, more than differences, have attracted foreigners’ eyes over Brazil. At least for two directors – Carlos Bolado (Only God Knows), from Mexico, and Kirill Mikhanovsky (Sonhos de Peixe), from Russia, currently living in the USA. They used Brazilian themes in their films that are in the 30th Mostra’s selection. Kirill pointed out that Brazil and Russian are alike, for instance, for they both enjoy singing and dancing. The difference is that Brazilians smile while singing and dancing, and the Russians drink and cry. He added that to shoot you have to have to look from an outsider’s point of view so you can really see it. Bolado said he chose the religious syncretism as a theme, an aspect that is alike in Brazil and Mexico, since in both countries it is necessary to funnel-shape the story. It’s not possible, in a single film, to tell the entire history of a country.
Bolado also said that Brazil is a very complicated country. Because of its size, there are many Brazils inside it, many immigrants and many accents in its formation. As for Mexico, in his opinion, because it is still a very young country, it doesn’t have a clear identity. The relationship between Brazil and Bolado started in literature. His father loved Brazilian authors, like Jorge Amado, and passed this passion on to his son. On the other hand, Kirill first got interested in Brazil because of Caetano Veloso, as he said in an exclusive interview for the Jornal da Mostra (read it here).
Bolado first came to Brazil in 1999, when he visited Salvador to research the candomblé. But he also wanted a story connected with São Paulo, a big city that, according to him, looks very much like Mexico City. Only God Knows is set in all the three cities, that is why it was difficult to make. The filmmaker said that bureaucracy, both Mexican and Brazilian, made him write and sign countless contracts. Besides that, it was necessary to think in how he would win the spectator, since the film is spoken in two languages and is focused on the people of both countries. He confessed that people who know Mexico and Brazil, when they watch the film, recognize themselves in it and report having lived similar situations.
With the exception of Chico Diaz and Phellipe Haagensen, the cast of Sonhos de Peixe is made up of non-actors, people who live in Baía Formosa, in Rio Grande do Norte state. Kirill said that from the very beginning he knew he wouldn’t work with professional actors because, according to him, there is no one better to play a fisherman than a fisherman. And the criteria used to select the cast were the same as for any professional: finding the right person for the part. José Maria Alves, who plays the leading character, said that the most difficult part for him was to “embody” somebody else. But, when he studied the character, he found out that it was already him, “all I had to do was to get him out of me”, he explained. José Maria also confessed that to the people in the village, the shootings were just like another carnival, everybody wanted in.