Amácio Mazzaropi in the Film and Culture of Brazil

Book excerpt: This book is a discussion of the work of Brazilian filmmaker Amacio Mazzaropi (1927 - 1980), who acted in, produced, and directed 32 films. Although at first they hailed him as a Brazilian Chaplin, as soon as his films became very popular, cultural critics ignored Mazzaropi (in contrast with the treatment given to more experimental Cinema Novo filmmakers). This book starts with an analysis of the placement of Mazzaropi's work in the context of Brazilian film industry, and offers some possible explanations for its critical reception. The succeeding chapters discuss both how the films approach issues facing a country that was changing and becoming more urban, how ex-centric Brazilians ('caipiras') resolved their position in this new society, and how they fit in the politics and in the history of the country. The book will be important for anyone interested in popular culture, cultural studies, and Latin American culture in general.