Brazen Brazil | Auckland Lifestyle News | Health, Fashion, Food and Wine in Auckland

Forget images of bikinis, beaches and brilliant footballers - this year's Reel Brazil Film Festival takes audiences to a Brazil never seen before.

Edgy, challenging and entertaining, the second Reel Brazil Film Festival brings a hand-picked programme of the best feature films and documentaries to Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown. While the big screen offerings are the main focus, the Reel Brazil Film Festival also includes parties.

This year's selction of movies offer a glimpse into real life in Brazil but also take filmgoers on journeys of ersonal discovery and the search for social tolerance and human rights. Other themes explored are desire and pure Latin comedy.

Some of the plotlines in the nine films, six features and three documentaries are: A pampered rich boy turned big-time drug baron. A cleaner in an airport dreaming of a better life overseas. Wannabe actresses chasing their dreams, not in telenovelas, but in a Bollywood blockbuster. And a pizza-delivering lesbian and a fabulous transsexual who find love in the most unusual circumstances.

Festival highlights

Jean Charles A story about the young Brazilian guy who was shot and killed by police in London who mistook him for a terrorist. This feature takes an unusual point of view: rather then focusing on the horrific end of his life, the film goes behind the headlines to show Jean Charles' life in London and all the tragicomic situations Brazilians go through when moving to another country.

Elvis & Madona One of the best and original comedies of this year will premiere at the Reel Brazil Film Festival ahead of its official release in Brazil. Be among the first to see the unlikely story of lesbian photographer and part-time pizza delivery Elvis and Madona (with one n) a ravishing blonde transvestite, a hairdresser and performer. Their paths cross in the most peculiar way and the outcome is something neither one expected.

Love stories last only 90 minutes Zeca is a young writer living in bohemian idleness in Rio, who's spent years writing a novel he just can't seem to finish. He lives in a strained relationship with his beautiful wife Julia and survives on handouts from his family. But everything seems to change, when he starts to suspect that Julia is cheating on him .. with another woman.

Beyond Ipanema celebrates the world's enduring fascination with Brazilian music. Through interviews with David Byrne, Devendra Banhart, M.I.A., Os Mutantes, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Tom Zé, Seu Jorge, Thievery Corporation, Bebel Gilberto, CSS, Creed Taylor and many others, Beyond Ipanema looks at how successive generations of music lovers have discovered Brazil's rich musical culture.

The Xavante Strategy tells the story of one Indian tribe's efforts to protect their indigenous heritage and lifestyle. Elders from the Xavante tribe in the state of Sao Paulo choose four young people and send them on a mission: to live with ordinary city families so that they can absorb urban culture and become spokesmen for the Xavante people. This documentary has been screened in many countries and the Xavante Strategy is inspiring many indigenous
cultures to provoke change and protect their heritage.

You make me feel mighty reel

Reel Brazil made its New Zealand debut at Te Papa in Wellington last year. It was a tribute to the 100th birthday of Carmen Miranda (the lady with the tutti-frutti hat) and drew almost 800 people in four days.

This year Reel Brazil expands to Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown. The Festival has become the largest annual Brazilian-focused event in New Zealand.

Films festivals:

Auckland: August 26 to September 1. Rialto Cinemas Newmarket
Wellington: September 9 to 15. Paramount Theatre
Queenstown: September 23 to 29. Reading Cinemas, Queenstown.

Festas:

Auckland. Saturday, 28 August 28 at The Windsor Castle & Juice Bar. 144 Parnell Rd. 9:30pm. Featuring DJ Bobby Brazuka and QRL Band. www.thewindsor.co.nz

Wellington. Saturday, September 11 at Estadio. 17-19 Blair St.  10pm. Featuring DJ Ras Quilombo and cRAZY fAt bRAZILIAn. www.thetemperance.co.nz

Queenstown. Saturday, September 25 at Melt Bar. 54 Shotover St.  10pm. Featuring DJ Bobby Brazuka and Sambanego. www.meltbar.co.nz

For more info about films and screening times, see the cinema websites.
For more about the Reel Brazil Film Festival, see www.reelbrazil.co.nz