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Iracema: Uma Transa Amaznica
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Wikipedia article
'Iracema: Uma Transa Amaznica' (, "Iracema: An Amazonian Transaction") is a 1974 Brazilian Cinema Novo film directed by Jorge Bodanzky and Orlando Senna and very loosely inspired by 'Iracema: The Legend of Cear', an 1865 novel by Jos de Alencar. The film takes place in the state of Par. The title can refer to a deal or transaction, to the Trans-Amazonian Highway, but also to sexual intercourse.
Production
The film combines scripted scenes with Paulo Csar Pereio (the only professional actor) and documentary footage of forests being cut down, and peasants, workers and prostitutes speaking to the camera. It was filmed in 16 mm to allow filming in remote locations and to convey a chaotic, out-of-control sense of the Amazon.
Plot
A White Brazilian truck driver, Tio, and a 15-year-old 'cabocla' (mixed-race) prostitute, Iracema, drive through an Amazon that is facing rapid changes.
Release and reception
'Iracema' was banned in Brazil (then under military rule) due to its explicit sexual content and critique of society. Its first showing abroad was at the 1975 Taormina Film Fest in Sicily, where it was nominated for the Golden Charybdis award.https://www.imdb.com/title/tt/releaseinfo?ref_=ttfc_sa_1 It showed at the International Critics' Week at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival.
'Iracema' was screened at the 1980 Festival de Braslia, winning prizes for Best Film, Best Actress (Edna de Cssia), Best Supporting Actress (Conceio Senna) and Best Editing (Eva Grundman and Jorge Bodanzky).
The 'New York Times' wrote that 'Iracema' "is a jaundiced view of the great Brazilian dream as represented by the trans-Amazon highway and the journey to the junk heap by its title character."
In 2015, 'Iracema' was named as the 21st best Brazilian film of all time on the Abraccine Top 100 Brazilian films list.
References
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