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An update from Evaneos
Brazil

Brazil, through its books and movies.

Brazil is a country that has a rich and diverse cultural heritage. Its history and social mix have and continue to play an important role in its growth as a nation. Even so, it's a complex society that can, sometimes, be hard to understand. Various writers, directors and artists have produced works that closely examine the reality of life in Brazil across the ages.

Essential reading...

Readers interested in history and ethnography should pick up the following:

-      Claude Lévi-Strauss, the famous French anthropologist/ethnologist, whose writings were inspired by his extensive travels and population studies. Published in 1955, 'Tristes Tropiques' (English translation by John Russell under the title 'A World on the Wane'), details the research he undertook on Amerindian tribes he met in Brazil.

-      Eduardo Galeano, a Uruguayan author. In 'Open Veins of Latin America ', published in 1971, he writes about the destruction of the continent's natural resources, with a focus on the level and consequences of rubber exploitation in Brazil.

-      Christophe Rufin, author, doctor and diplomat. In his 2001 historical novel 'Rouge Brésil' or 'Brazil Red', Rufin writes about the first, tentative attempts by the French to colonize Brazil in the 16th Century.

For books that delve into contemporary Brazil, I suggest you read the following:

-      Christophe Rufin, 'La Salamandre' (or The Salamander'): a novel that tells the tale of a middle class French woman, who falls in love with a Brazilian gigolo she meets whilst on vacation in Brazil.

-      Jorge Amado, a Brazilian author. Inspired by his native land, this author has written several novels, which give an insight into local culture and customs. The 'Bay of All Saints' is one of his classics; a story about Antonio, a working class hero battling poverty.

The old quarter in Belém

For art lovers, look up Jean-Claude Denis's, 'Belém: Un mirage à l’envers', where he describes life in Brazil through a series of watercolors.

Documentaries...

Brazil's economic and social issues are not always apparent to foreigners. These documentaries and movies will help you better understand what's really going on.

-      Robert Bariou, a researcher at Rennes University, based his studies on Brazil. One documentary of his not to miss is 'O Nordeste do Brasil, une terre d’écrivains'.

-      Jacques Hubschman, engineer, agronomist and geographer. In 'Miracle in the Sertão?' (available in four languages, including English), this University of Toulouse ll Le Mirail professor tells of life in rural Bahia.

To learn more about the cities' favelas, I can recommend the following:

-      Elite Squad 1 & 2, by José Padilha, released in 2008 and 2010. These movies dive into the heart of the favelas, where the Brazlian BOPE or 'Special Police Operation Battalion', are waging a war on drugs.

-      City of God, by Fernando Meirelles, released in 2002. This follows two young men growing up in a Rio favela. One longs to become a professional photographer, the other dreams of being a powerful drug lord. It effectively dramatizes the daily violence that these two men face.

Delphine Teisserenc
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