Novos Baianos on national tour

Camila Vieira_Bahia 247 - For the first time in 50 years, a film production entirely from Bahia – direction, production, research and editing – is being shown in national theaters. This is the documentary "Filhos de João – O Admirável Mundo Novo Baiano" (Sons of João – The Admirable New World of Bahia), which portrays part of the trajectory of Novos Baianos, a musical group responsible for shaking up the artistic scene in the 1960s and 70s. "Filhos de João" is more than a musical documentary; it evokes an era and the typical youth mentality of that decade.

The film, which won the audience award at the 42nd Brasília Film Festival, is the first feature film by director Henrique Dantas and has been well-received by critics and audiences at the festivals it has been shown at. After previews in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo throughout the week, it arrived in Salvador on Thursday the 21st and opened in cinemas yesterday. "Filhos de João" will initially be shown in nine Brazilian cities, including Salvador. After its first week in theaters, it will be shown in 12 more cities. In total, it will tour 21 Brazilian cities and approximately 50 cinemas.

Novos Baianos - Formed by Moraes Moreira, Pepeu Gomes, Baby Consuelo, Paulinho Boca de Cantor, Dadi, and Luiz Galvão, Novos Baianos emerged in December 1968, during the full implementation of Institutional Act number 5, the AI-5. They became a kind of alternative community in the early 1970s, when they decided to move to a rural area and make music. Before they arrived at their distinctly Brazilian mix of genres – the group leaned towards rock – they had a mentor named João Gilberto. And it is to this singer and composer, whose contribution was significant, that the film's title alludes.

All the members give testimonials in the film, except for Baby Consuelo, who recorded an interview but asked to have it removed. The reason was that she couldn't reach commercial agreements for the use of her image in the documentary. As Dantas pointed out, the tribute to the singer was still made. After all, she was part of the group and of our history.

Musicals - Documentary cinema is legitimized through partnerships with music. Recently, films such as "Herbert de Perto," directed by Roberto Berliner and Pedro Bronz; "Titãs - A Vida até Parece Uma Festa," by Branco Mello and Oscar Rodrigues Alves; "Palavra (en)cantada," by Helena Solberg; and "Simonal - Ninguém sabe o duro que eu dei," directed by Cláudio Manoel, Micael Langer, and Calvito Leal, among others, have been shown on cinema screens. The most recent premiere was about the band Mamonas Assassinas, with the film "Mamonas pra sempre," by Cláudio Kahns. Although thematically not new, musical documentaries are diversifying in formats, duration, and approaches, representing a trend in the Brazilian market, which, despite some successes, still doesn't give documentaries much prominence.