I reckon this was always going to be a bit of a creatively risky venture and for me: a Frenchman moving a Greek myth to the culturally diverse Brazil was always going to be quite an ask. It's colourful and well cast, but I am afraid the story just muddled up too many themes for me. The premiss is the same as the ancient story, with this time "Eurydice" (Marpessa Dawn) having fled her home town to avoid the unwelcome…
Black Orpheus (1959)
The film that introduced Bossa Nova to the world...
Young lovers Orfeu and Eurydice run through the favelas of Rio during Carnaval, on the lam from a hitman dressed like Death and Orfeu's vengeful fiancée Mira and passing between moments of fantasy and stark reality. This impressionistic retelling of the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice introduced bossa nova to the world with its soundtrack by young Brazilian composers Luiz Bonfá and Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Top Cast
Breno Mello
Orfeo
Marpessa Dawn
Eurydice
Lourdes de Oliveira
Mira
Léa Garcia
Serafina
Adhemar Ferreira da Silva
Death
Waldetar De Souza
Chico
Alexandre Constantino
Hermes
Jorge Dos Santos
Benedito
Aurino Cassiano
Zeca
Maria Alice
Little Girl
Marcel Camus
Ernesto
Fausto Guerzoni
Fausto
Thereza Santos
Zeni Pereira
Elizeth Cardoso
Cartola
Reviews
FAQ about Black Orpheus
What is Black Orpheus about?
Young lovers Orfeu and Eurydice run through the favelas of Rio during Carnaval, on the lam from a hitman dressed like Death and Orfeu's vengeful fiancée Mira and passing between moments of fantasy and stark reality. This impressionistic retelling of the Greek legend of Orpheus…
When was Black Orpheus released?
Black Orpheus was released in 1959.
What genres does Black Orpheus belong to?
Black Orpheus is categorised as Drama, Romance.
Who stars in Black Orpheus?
The cast of Black Orpheus includes Breno Mello, Marpessa Dawn, Lourdes de Oliveira, Léa Garcia, Adhemar Ferreira da Silva.