The Myth of Orpheus

Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus) is an all time favorite film which will make you want to pack your bags and head for Brazil (and if you live there, love it even more). Written and directed by Marcel Camus and released in 1959, its a re-creation of a love story from the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The myth goes like this:

Orpheus (son of Apollo) was blessed with musical talents that could turn the course of rivers and shift hillside rock with the sounds of his music. His beloved Eurydice had died and he longed for her. He was given one chance to get her back from the dead. All he had to do was lead her to the surface with out looking back for her. He finds her during Carnaval week and leads her towards the surface. Just as he stepped into the light, he turned to offer her a hand. She was too far behind and because Orpheus turned too soon she slipped back into the darkness of death.

While we may all wish for extra special powers, the real life musicians who created the soundtrack, changed the world of music overnight. Composers, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luis Bonfá, became international stars from the songs "Manha de Carnival" and "O Nossa Amor". The inter-twining of the film's magical story telling and musical backdrop set the stage for a marvelous film that is unforgettable.

One of the happiest scenes is when the children are playing music and think they have special powers like Orpheus to make the sun rise:



Its a must see! You can pick it up on Amazon.