Memórias Póstumas

Memórias Póstumas
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	André Klotzel
Written by	André Klotzel José Roberto Torero
Based on	The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas by Machado de Assis
Produced by	André Klotzel
Starring	Reginaldo Faria Petrônio Gontijo Viétia Rocha Sônia Braga
Cinematography	Pedro Farkas
Edited by	André Klotzel
Music by	Mário Manga
Production company	Superfilmes
Distributed by	Lumière
Release dates	February 14, 2001 (2001-02-14) (Berlin) August 17, 2001 (2001-08-17) (Brazil)
Running time	102 minutes
Countries	Brazil Portugal
Language	Portuguese
Budget	R$4.5–5 million[1][2]
Box office	R$855,484[3]

Memórias Póstumas (known in English as Posthumous Memoirs^[4][5][6] and Posthumous Memories^[7][8][9]) is a 2001 comedy-drama film directed by André Klotzel based on The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas by Machado de Assis. It follows Brás Cubas, played by Reginaldo Faria and Petrônio Gontijo, as he recounts his life after his death.

Cast

• Reginaldo Faria as Bras Cubas
  • Petrônio Gontijo as young Bras Cubas
• Viétia Rocha as Vírgilia
• Sônia Braga as Marcela
• Otávio Müller as Lobo Neves
• Marcos Caruso as Quincas Borba
• Stepan Nercessian as Bento Cubas
• Débora Duboc as Dona Eusébia
• Walmor Chagas as Dr. Villaça
• Nilda Spencer as Dona Plácida
• Milena Toscano as Eugênia

Production

Klotzel started to adapt the novel and search for sponsors in 1996; the production was done in 1998, and it was shot in 1999.^[1] A co-production between Brazil and Portugal,^[10] Memórias Póstumas had a budget of about R$4.5–5 million^[1][2] ($2,006,509–2,229,455). It was shot in about 60 filming locations at eight cities, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Parati, Salvador and Coimbra, which lasted twelve weeks.^[2][6]

Release and reception

Its worldwide premiere occurred at the Panorama section of the 2001 Berlin International Film Festival,^[4][11] and it was well received by the public.^[10] Memórias Póstumas competed at the 18th International Film Festival of Kerala,^[5] and won five awards at the 29th Festival de Gramado: Best Critic's Choice Film, Best Jury's Choice Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for Braga.^[12] Its release in Brazil was on August 17, 2001, and it grossed R$855,484 ($381,452) with an attendance of 186,380 people in the 57 theatres in which it was released.^[3]

It was also well received by English-language critics. Kate Blackhurst from The Lumière Reader said "I can see why it won several international film awards, and its excellence lies in the fact that it is almost impossible to explain."^[6] Variety's Eddie Cockrell "Andre Klotzel revisits distinctive brand of local telenovela melodrama he knows best, with spoofy results that will put pic in demand at fests. Theatrical may be a bit iffier, although vid and tube life will be spry."^[8] Writing for The New York Times, Elvis Mitchell stated it has a "hilarious poise", adding that the film "is playful and formal".^[7]

References

1. ""Memórias Póstumas" tem pré-estréia em São Paulo". O Estado de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). Grupo Estado. August 1, 2001. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
2. "Cineasta paulista lança versão de "Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas"". A Tarde. Universo Online. August 8, 2001.
3. "Filmes Brasileiros Lançados - 1995 a 2013" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Ancine. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
4. "Memórias Póstumas" (PDF). Berlin International Film Festival. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
5. "IFFK Archives: 2002". International Film Festival of Kerala. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
6. "Latin American Film Festival: Posthumous Memoirs". The Lumière Reader. Lumière Industries. April 24, 2007. Archived from the original on January 15, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
7. Mitchell, Elvis (9 August 2001). "Critic's Notebook; A Festival of Latin Films That Go Many Different Places". The New York Times. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
8. Cockrell, Eddie (March 16, 2001). "Review: 'Posthumous Memories'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
9. "Posthumous Memories (Memórias Póstumas) (12A) + ScreenTalk". Barbican Centre. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
10. "Memórias Póstumas é a atração de hoje" (in Portuguese). Terra Networks. August 9, 2001. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
11. "Memórias Póstumas: Brás Cubas" (in Portuguese). Cinemateca Brasileira. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
12. Arantes, Silvana (August 13, 2001). "'Memórias Póstumas' leva 5 troféus em Gramado". Folha de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). Grupo Folha. Retrieved April 27, 2014.

External links

• Memórias Póstumas at IMDb