Andy Uhrich from the Moving Image Archive and Darlene J. Sadlier are organizing a one-night, double feature tribute to Nelson Pereira dos Santos on Wednesday, September 19.
The two films selected for the program represent the range of Nelson's filmmaking. Boca de Ouro (Gold Mouth) is an adaptation of Brazilian playwright Nelson Rodrigues's drama. It's a 1963 crime film with noir touches, including jazz music, and excellent performances by Jece Valadão and Odete Lara. It runs approx. 102 min.
The second feature is Estrada da Vida (Highway of Life), a 1981 musical comedy (among my favorites) that stars the real-life country singing duo José Rico and Milionário, who were immensely popular at the time. It's a charming and funny film and demonstrates Nelson's affection for comedy and a music that, at the time, was looked down upon by the urban elite. José Rico and Milionário are an amazingly endearing comic duo. Letterboxed, Estrada runs approx. 104 min.
Both films have been wonderfully restored and have English subtitles. Boca is at 7pm and Estrada at 9pm. Both will be shown in the Moving Image Archive Screening Room in the Herman B Welles Library (near the Black Film Archive on the sub-floor). Andy and Darlene J. Sadlier will give short introductions.
There were many events scheduled to take place to celebrate Nelson's 90th birthday this year. Although he is no longer with us, retrospectives will be running in Italy, France, Mexico, and in NYC and at Berkeley. Nelson loved our campus, the Cinema, the Lilly Library and the Moving Image Archive and he spent many happy hours talking to students, faculty and administrators here. President McRobbie recognized his long and distinguished career with IU's Thomas Hart Benton medal. Jon Vickers organized a spectacular week-long retrospective at the Cinema, where Nelson spoke on stage.
We honor him once more with this program.
The College of Arts