Marcio Debellian – Februaries #FIPA2018

January 29, 2018

Marcio Debellian - Februaries #FIPA2018 fredfilmradio

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PODCAST| Matt Micucci interviews Marcio Debellian, director of the documentary Februaries.

Director Marcio Debellian presented his documentary Februaries at the 31st International Festival of Audiovisual Programmes (FIPA) in Biarritz, France. The documentary follows the preparation and the exhibition of an homage to the renowned and celebrated Brazilian singer Maria Bethânia by the Mangueira Samba School. This offers the opportunity not only for a portrait of the life, art, and other aspects of Bethânia, but also the telling of the history of the carnival and samba tradition, which originates from a past of slavery, poverty, mythology, and more. Debellian tells us a little bit about it with great passion; passion is, indeed, one of the driving forces of the film. The passion also comes from Bethânia herself, who is featured in the film, along with other contributors, including her brother and celebrated artist Caetano Veloso, her music and more great traditional Brazilian music. The director talks about working with Bethânia and reveals that he had worked with her before. He also discusses the controversies revolving the upcoming Carnival festivities, the use of little-seen archive footage, and more.

Februaries: An endearing portrait following Brazil’s best-loved singer, Maria Bethânia, and her brother, Caetano Veloso, as they revisit their ancestral history in their hometown of Santo Amaro, long a source of her inspiration. They learn of their slave forefathers and of the unique religious context that gave rise to Bethânia the star, to whom the Mangueira Samba School recently paid homage in a parade that won the 2016 Rio Carnival.