Universal Focuses on Brazilian Films
Filed under: Foreign Language, Deals, Universal, Focus Features, Cinematical Indie
Fernando Meirelles' City of God was so phenomenal that when the director's follow-up, The Constant Gardener, was released, I hated it simply because it just didn't compare. Well, I've since gotten over my initial disappointment with Gardener and have even developed a love for it -- still not as big as my love for City of God, however -- and so I continue to look forward to whatever Meirelles gives us in the future. Turns out, he may be giving us more than we could have imagined, thanks to a new three-year, five-picture deal with Universal/Focus. The deal isn't for films that Meirelles will direct himself, but is instead for the development of films by young Brazilian filmmakers.
This is incredible news considering most of the time Hollywood wants to remake foreign films, not produce them. Sure indie divisions like Universal's Focus Features pick them up for distribution, and Brazil is often represented in America thanks to the great actress Fernanda Monenegro, but in my opinion, we can never have too many foreign films released in this country. The one Brazilian film that Meirelles produced before this deal, Contra Todos, wasn't given a proper release in the States, which is too bad, because I'd bet it's far better than that awful film that won the best foreign language Oscar this year.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-28-2006 @ 5:16AM
Alex said...
Yes, wow!! Finally, someone else who agree's right down to the point on the exact same opinions on Meirelles' films! I too have an incredible "love" for City of God, and felt the exact same as you when I saw Constant Gardener - it just wasn't City of God. I've just passed it by and realized that he's still got more in the future to do and that I can always kick back and watch City of God whenever I want. Damn... want an amazing film. I feel like watching it again right now!
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7-28-2006 @ 9:35AM
jharvard said...
I need to chime in as well. I saw City of God almost a year ago, but I think about it all the time. It's such a powerful film. Constant Gardener was good, the imagery excellent and distinct. I know Meirelles has a lot more in him and I am anxious to see what he does next.
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7-28-2006 @ 11:17AM
Ryland said...
I can't stand Gardner and I'm pretty sure it wasn't because it simply didn't live up to City of God. It was because the writing was so subpar: how are we to believe this was a love for all time? And it's got those stretch marks of an under-researched kind of vanity thing where everybody involved is like "We went to the slums and helped people!" when really it's just a big guilt trip. That all said, the acting is all very good, and almost makes up for some of the storytelling shortcomings but in the end I was mostly bored and didn't believe what I was watching.
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