Chichester Cinema at New Park
The Ballroom
Chega de Saudade
‘The Ballroom’ invites you to experience the lives, loves and dreams of the patrons of a traditional Brazilian dance hall.
The setting is an old-fashioned dance hall ("gafieira") that has seen better days. The people who go there are in search of a good time, socializing, flirting, fond memories and the very special sort of human contact that ballroom-dancing can provide.
Almost all of them are old-timers; those under 50 can be spotted across the room like a flashlight in the dark. We get to meet a bunch of easily recognizable characters: the old, grouchy former ballroom king who's got his foot in plaster (Leonardo Villar); the beautiful old lady slowly sliding into the foggy world of Alzheimer's disease (Tônia Carrero); the "simpaticone" charmer and his irresistible soft small talk (Stepan Nercessian); the roué ex-Don Juan who's become a pool of sarcasm (Luiz Serra); the aging beauty who fails to see she's lost her lure (Betty Faria)…
The soundtrack is another big asset: there are some 20 vintage Brazilian songs in various genres (including samba, forró, choro, samba-canção, pop, etc) performed by a big band with singers Elza Soares, still showing powerful lungs and infectious swing at 70, and Marku Ribas. Recommended for those who enjoy ensemble acting, dancing, music, laughter... and it can probably work miracles for grumpy old heels. (Subtitles)
Brazil · 2007 · Lais Bodanzky · 95min
