+-+400+pixels.jpg){kind=tracking}
One Version of the Besouro PosterHey AFRICAN FAM,
A friend of mine dropped this film to me via email which looks like a little jewel with a big heart about the African Diaspora and I wanted to share this with y'all! I'm hoping Besouro (Beetle) comes to the States. Because I live in New York City the chances of us New Yorkers seeing it is much greater. I really want to see this film. One of the videos below is the theatrical trailer and the other video is a sneak peek of more footage from the film and a behind-the-scenes look of the choreography. As a budding filmmaker the fight choreography sequences with the camera movements were particularly gratifying to watch!! Whhuuuuhhhhhooo! LOL! 
ROD (aka BIG ROD)
Synopsis/Background Info:
One of the biggest productions in the history of Brazilian cinema, Besouro (Beetle) is a film about the life of legendary Brazilian Capoeira fighter Besouro Mangangá from Bahia in search of his mission.
Besouro is confirmed for a theatrical release in Brazil in October 2009 with international launches to follow. Directed by João Daniel Tikhomiroff, Besouro is an action movie set in 1920s Bahia, the story of a legendary Capoeira fighter who uses the power of Candomble (an Afro-Brazilian religion) to fight the harsh conditions which, even post-abolition, the African population endured in Brazil. With action director Huan-Chiu Ku (Kill Bill; The Matrix; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) the film promises spectacular stunt sequences and a soundtrack featuring Gilberto Gil, Naná Vasconcelos, Rica Amabis, Tejo and Naçao Zumbi’s Pupillo.
Besouro (Beetle) - Theatrical Trailer (2:26)
Besouro (Beetle)
Film Footage And A Behind-The-Scenes Look (4:02)
Besouro and African Orisha Exu
Besouro Fighting Quero-Quero
African Orisha Oxun (Oshun / Ochun)
Orisha Exu and Besouro
Noca de Antônia, The Racist Overlord
Besouro
African Orisha Exu
Besouro and Dinorá
Film Footage And A Behind-The-Scenes Look (4:02)
UPDATE (Saturday, July 2nd, 2011):
I just found out this week that Besouro is now released on DVD through an independent company called Ikano Filem Sdn. I got my copy from Amazon.com
Now I should point out that the Besouro DVD has been in and out of stock and that there are different versions of the film. I have the Besouro [2010, Brazil] [Official Slipcase Edition] which Amazon had 5 in stock at the time that I ordered. I went back a day later, and saw that only 1 was in stock. Since then it's hit or miss if Amazon has it. If you SEE IT, BUY IT!
There' also the Besouro [Import] (2010) version. I don't know and can't verify if the later version has the special features or not, or if the quality of the disc transfer is the same as the slipcase version that I have. Keep checking Amazon, or check your own DVD merchant resources.
The running time of the film is 94 minutes. The special features of the disc consists of Making of, Art Direction, Direction of Photography, Behind-the-Scenes, Action Choreography and Sound Editing.
Because I've been busy with editing some dance theater pictures and attending the International African Arts Festival, I haven't had a chance to watch the film except for the first minute, and the quality of the transfer looks good. I'm chomping at the bit to watch the whole film, and will report back on the film's quality and the special feature extras.
UPDATE (Sunday, July 10th, 2011):
Finally got a chance to sit down and watch the whole film and it's DOPE! The film print transfer is really nice and zero problems with the disc. NOW GO OUT AND GET IT!...
UPDATE (Wednesday, July 13th, 2011):
Short story...
After waiting over 2 YEARS for someone to exhibition the film in New York City, I finally got to see a film screening exhibition of a 35mm print of the film at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens, NYC 3 months ago on Sunday, April 17th, 2011. The theater was medium sized and was packed. It was so packed that they had to call the museum crew in to physically bring in addition seats and place them at the back of the theater to accommodate people Including me! LOL!).
The crowd cheered and roared and moaned at different points in the film. I really felt like a little kid seeing this film. Even though this film ould be considered a low budget movie by Hollywood standards, it's HEART, I THINK, is bigger than some of these $150-200 million dollar block/boom-bust-busters. A came away with a feeling I will rarely get to experience in my entire lifetime as a movie-goer of African descent. Why do I say that? Well, because I saw a group of people with skin complexions on screen that looked liked me, the protagonist/hero who reflected my aspirations/fears/mistakes/truths like me, and a film devoid of eurocentrity and so full of African affirmations that I just won't see from a major Hollywood film. I was so charged and pumped up after leaving the theater. It's hard to ever remember feeling like that from a personal Africnetric perspective.
Besouro is such an Africentric affirming film on soooooooooo many level. Depending on your perspective one may like the action/martial arts aspect of it incorporating the art of Capoeira, or perhaps root for the independence of a struggling Afro-Brazilian people from slavery in 1920s Bahia with the hope and leadership of the Besouro character (which is based on a real person and Capeiora fighter called Besouro Mangangá), or you may relate to the infusion of the African Orishas such as Exu, Ogum, Ossain and, Oxun, or you may vibe with the religious undertones of Candomblé and the overall mysticism of the film. Take your pick as I love the layering of all these elements in this film... And the extras of the DVD was awesome. Only got through one of them so far, and it was amazing!!
For me one of the best films in a long while... just different and un-American and non-formulaic in it's story-telling approach. NOW GO OUT AND GET IT ON DVD! AND, IF YOU CAN SEE A FILM SCREENING SOMEONE, (WHETHER YOU HAVE THE DVD OR NOT), IT'S WORTH SEEING ON THE BIG SCREEN FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT!!!
Now I should point out that the Besouro DVD has been in and out of stock and that there are different versions of the film. I have the Besouro [2010, Brazil] [Official Slipcase Edition] which Amazon had 5 in stock at the time that I ordered. I went back a day later, and saw that only 1 was in stock. Since then it's hit or miss if Amazon has it. If you SEE IT, BUY IT!
There' also the Besouro [Import] (2010) version. I don't know and can't verify if the later version has the special features or not, or if the quality of the disc transfer is the same as the slipcase version that I have. Keep checking Amazon, or check your own DVD merchant resources.
The running time of the film is 94 minutes. The special features of the disc consists of Making of, Art Direction, Direction of Photography, Behind-the-Scenes, Action Choreography and Sound Editing.
Because I've been busy with editing some dance theater pictures and attending the International African Arts Festival, I haven't had a chance to watch the film except for the first minute, and the quality of the transfer looks good. I'm chomping at the bit to watch the whole film, and will report back on the film's quality and the special feature extras.
UPDATE (Sunday, July 10th, 2011):
Finally got a chance to sit down and watch the whole film and it's DOPE! The film print transfer is really nice and zero problems with the disc. NOW GO OUT AND GET IT!...
UPDATE (Wednesday, July 13th, 2011):
Short story...
After waiting over 2 YEARS for someone to exhibition the film in New York City, I finally got to see a film screening exhibition of a 35mm print of the film at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens, NYC 3 months ago on Sunday, April 17th, 2011. The theater was medium sized and was packed. It was so packed that they had to call the museum crew in to physically bring in addition seats and place them at the back of the theater to accommodate people Including me! LOL!).
The crowd cheered and roared and moaned at different points in the film. I really felt like a little kid seeing this film. Even though this film ould be considered a low budget movie by Hollywood standards, it's HEART, I THINK, is bigger than some of these $150-200 million dollar block/boom-bust-busters. A came away with a feeling I will rarely get to experience in my entire lifetime as a movie-goer of African descent. Why do I say that? Well, because I saw a group of people with skin complexions on screen that looked liked me, the protagonist/hero who reflected my aspirations/fears/mistakes/truths like me, and a film devoid of eurocentrity and so full of African affirmations that I just won't see from a major Hollywood film. I was so charged and pumped up after leaving the theater. It's hard to ever remember feeling like that from a personal Africnetric perspective.
Besouro is such an Africentric affirming film on soooooooooo many level. Depending on your perspective one may like the action/martial arts aspect of it incorporating the art of Capoeira, or perhaps root for the independence of a struggling Afro-Brazilian people from slavery in 1920s Bahia with the hope and leadership of the Besouro character (which is based on a real person and Capeiora fighter called Besouro Mangangá), or you may relate to the infusion of the African Orishas such as Exu, Ogum, Ossain and, Oxun, or you may vibe with the religious undertones of Candomblé and the overall mysticism of the film. Take your pick as I love the layering of all these elements in this film... And the extras of the DVD was awesome. Only got through one of them so far, and it was amazing!!
For me one of the best films in a long while... just different and un-American and non-formulaic in it's story-telling approach. NOW GO OUT AND GET IT ON DVD! AND, IF YOU CAN SEE A FILM SCREENING SOMEONE, (WHETHER YOU HAVE THE DVD OR NOT), IT'S WORTH SEEING ON THE BIG SCREEN FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT!!!
Besouro and African Orisha Exu
Besouro Fighting Quero-Quero
African Orisha Oxun (Oshun / Ochun)
Orisha Exu and Besouro
Noca de Antônia, The Racist Overlord
Besouro
African Orisha Exu
Besouro and Dinorá 
+LR+Edit+32.jpg)
.jpg)
+Composing+A+Shot.JPG)
.jpg)
I would love to see this movie. Will it ever be released in the United States or on dvd soon?
ReplyDeleteHey Lenny,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your comment. I appreciate you taking the time to write something.
From a little blurb I read, there's the possibility of Besouro coming to the States in November 2009. So I'm hoping the ancestors will bless us with this interesting film.
And even if the film makes a November 2009 premiere in the United States. it is my belief the film will only premiere is certain limited markets such as New York or Los Angeles or perhaps a FEW other cities. Films of this type about the African Diaspora generally don't play well to a broader audience; and Black themed films have a taboo and double standard about them that equate to NOT being universal in nature. In other words, a Black film's story couldn't possibly have relevance or resonant with a larger non-Black audience. Yet, the reverse is always expected.
Anyway, we'll see what happens. Thanks again, Lenny.
This is a fantastic article. I really would love to see this movie. I saw some parts of Only The Strong, but this movie looks a lot better. Thanks a lot for the posting. I think that this movie could really have a cult following especially within the black community if more people knew about it.
ReplyDeleteJonathan,
ReplyDeleteThe film has a little something for everybody as I stated before whether the positive African cultural aspects, the action, etc.
The film is in and out of stock from Amazon and from different Amazon merchants. I paid $16.95 for mine on June 28th, 2011, but I see it as high as $159
Thanks for reaching back, Jonathan. Be qool bro!
That picture of the girl with the flower is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Joshua!
ReplyDelete