Straight to the point

 

Initially classified as sambandido (gangsta samba) the music of Bezerra da Silva exploded onto the Brazilian pagode scene during the 80's and remains phenomenally popular.

His music delights by its subtle explicitness, an "in your face" attitude of denunciation with kid gloves, undertones of irony and social criticism to reigning social corruption through dodging and evading the law and a full empathy with the underdog which has to survive outside the boundary's laws which are made to protect the rich.

Bezerra's music denotes a very unique and differentiated attitude from the other pagodeiros (Pagode musicians). In his sambas, the word "love" is never heard. His favorite subjects are the survival tactics of the cool dude dodging the law to survive.

Bezerra is one of the greatest recording artists in Brazil, yet, very few know the secret behind all his success: an amazing songwriting team.

This team is composed by young pagodeiros, from the thriving favelas high up on the hills of Rio de Janeiro, and the Baixada Fluminense - the lowlands surrounding the city. Known as "Popular P", "Adelzonilton", "Walmir da Purificação", "Roxinho", 1000tinho, these are the true poets of the hills, in and out of prison, subjected to torture, scratching an existence as electricians, mechanics, fireman, people coping daily with violence and tragedy, and for this very reason, the idiosyncratic reality of 'malandragem" (gangsta cool), of law evasion for survival, which inspires them to write sambas that are contagious and the most faithful register of their social reality.

Awards

Best Short film at the 5th Brazilian Film Festival of Miami, USA, 2001

- Special Jury Award at the 29th Brazilian and Latin Film Festival of Gramado, Brazil, 2001

- "Cine Mambembe" Award at the 12th International Short Film Festival of São Paulo, Brazil, 2001

- Best Documentary Short Film at the 9th Film and Video Festival of Cuiabá, Brazil, 2001

- Best Short Film at the Rio Festival BR 2001

1 x 52'

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