Black Orpheus: Setting the Stage

     The beginning of the Marcel Camus's Black Orpheus struck me as a glimpse into the culture of Brazil. From the children gliding kites on a sunny day to the dancers on the street, each shot is meant to introduce aspects of culture to the audience. The audience is meant to be experiencing this influx of sensory overload in the same way that the main character is. The age range of the population in these scenes stood out to me that some groups of younger children appeared more independent and may be given more freedom to go around the city at such a festive time. The bright culture of Brazil makes appearances in the food that the main character encounters at the market, the dancers in the market square, and even is placed upon her neck in the opening scene from an exchange which demonstrates the importance of respect for elders and kindness towards strangers. Many remarks were made about the main characters appearances highlighting the gender inequality and objectification made towards vulnerable women in cities. Although at some points I was afraid for Eurydice but the kind way in which characters interacted with each other on a personal basis assured me that the directors intended the city to feel exciting, a bit overwhelming, but not dangerous to the main character. I appreciated how strangers showed kindness to each other demonstrated in ways such as when the woman selling onions at the market helped Eurydice out of the dancers closing her in or when Hermes showed Eurydice which way her cousin's house is. Music score is always a great way to convey tone in video format and the cheery, vivacious music encapsulates perfectly the bright factors of culture that is demonstrated in the first few minutes of this movie. 

Comments

  1. UnknownJanuary 13, 2021 at 8:17 PM

    Hello Beck, I loved going through your post on Black Orpheus as I focused on the different age range of people dancing in the intro. I think this speaks to the culture in terms of inclusivity and community for all stages of life. I mentioned the kite in my post as well, in terms of it flying away and falling relating to the protagonist and her journey she is about to embark on. Do you have any thoughts on why they included the scene with the flight?

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  2. Natalie Crawford January 14, 2021 at 10:24 PM

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  3. Natalie Crawford January 14, 2021 at 10:26 PM

    Hello! Wow, I commend your attention to detail and depth of reflection- it was almost as if I was watching the start of the film again. I hadn't initially focused on the nature of the interactions between the people around Eurydice and how that created a foundation or ambience for her journey through the city- very well said!

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  4. UnknownJanuary 14, 2021 at 11:14 PM

    I didn't draw a connection between the emotion the audience feels and what the character is feeling at the beginning scene! It made a lightbulb go off in my head. Your points about the relationships between characters and their dynamics was very interesting to me.

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