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Better Days Ahead
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| name = Better Days Ahead
| image = Better Days Ahead film.png
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Carlos Diegues
| producer = Paulo Cesar Ferreira
| writer =
| starring =
| music = Rita Lee
Roberto de Carvalho
| cinematography = Lauro Escorel
| editing = Gilberto Santeiro
| studio = Cininvest
Multiplic
| distributor = Embrafilme
| released =
| runtime = 92 minutes
| country = Brazil
| language = Portuguese
| budget =
| gross =
}}
'Better Days Ahead' is a 1989 Brazilian comedy-drama film directed by Carlos Diegues.
Plot
The staff of a dubbing studio celebrates the announcement of a Brazilian dubbing of an acclaimed show called 'The Mary Shadow Show'. Mary Shadow is played by brazilian biggest rockstar, Rita Lee. To dub the main character, Dalila (Zez Motta) indicates her neighbor Marialva (Marlia Pra), who adopts the name "Mary Mattos" as she dreams about becoming a Hollywood star. Marialva lives tormented by the death of her former boyfriend, and finds refuge on Wallace (Jos Wilker), a married man who promises he will abandon his family to live with her.
Meanwhile, Pompeu (Paulo Jos), the dubbing director falls in love with Marialva and says he will direct a film starring her. After some dates, Marialva asks Pompeu to go to Jacarepagu, the district where Wallace lives; when he notices she just wanted to Wallace, Pompeu abandons Marialva there. From the top of a tree, Marialva witnesses Wallace with his family as he dies of a heart attack. After this, Marialva says to Dalila she will quit from the job.
When Dalila asks her to translate a letter from an American admirer, Marialva discovers 'The Mary Shadow Show' needs a new actress to play the role of Mary Shadow's maid. Without telling to no one, Marialva goes to Wallace's office, takes some money he had left, and travels to the United States aiming to get the role. In the end, Marialva gets the role and when a new episode from 'The Mary Shadow Show' arrives at the dubbing studio, Pompeu, Dalila and the rest of staff are thrilled.
Cast
*Marlia Pra as Marialva "Mary" Mattos
*Paulo Jos as Pompeu
*Zez Motta as Dalila
*Jos Wilker as Wallace Caldeira
*Rita Lee as Mary Shadow
*Marilu Bueno as Adelaide
*Paulo Csar Pereio as Pereira
*Aurora Miranda as Aurora
*Antnio Pedro as Salgado
*Betina Vianny as Janete
*Benjamin Cattan as Ferreiro
*Patricio Bisso as Juanita
*Joffre Soares as Coronel
Release and reception
After a limited release on September 4, 1989, the film was first exhibited to general audience through TV Globo in the early 90s; thus, film distributors boycotted 'Better Days Ahead' on its theatrical release on October 4, 1991.
In 1990, 'Better Days Ahead' won the Special Prize at the Denver Film Festival and Biarritz Film Festival. It won the 1991 Cartagena Film Festival in the categories Best Screenplay and Best Actress (Pra). In addition, it was the Brazilian submission for the 62nd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, although it was not nominated.
References
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