On 17 May 1931, the young director Mário Peixoto released his masterpiece "Limite" in a premiere in Capitólio Theater to astonished audiences bewildered by the impressive and poetic images. Considered by many viewers (including myself) the best Brazilian movie ever made, this feature has never been released commercially. However, in a great paradox, Mário Peixoto has never made any other movie.
The director Sérgio Machado pays a great tribute to the life and work Mário Peixoto a.k.a. Maçarico by his close friends with this documentary, using his diary; footages of "Limite", the never concluded "Onde a Terra Acaba" (1933) and the short "O Homem do Morcego" (1980); and interesting testimonies of Olga Breno, Ruy Solberg, Nelson Pereira dos Santos and Walter Salles among others. The concern of Mário Peixoto with the irreversibility of time is clear, inclusive he tells that "time is an illusion". The title of "Onde a Terra Acaba" is homage to the 1933 movie that Mário Peixoto has never ended due to problems in the relationship with the greatest diva of the Brazilian Cinema of the 30's, Carmen Santos, who has a cameo in "Limite" and left the location in Marambaia many times during the shootings.
Sérgio Machado also uses or details many parts of the short "O Homem do Morcego", and among the most interesting parts I found the explanation of Ruy Solberg about the impossible request of Mário Peixoto of the Brazilian singer Roberto Carlos and the French actress Brigitte Bardot in the lead cast of his never made movie "A Alma Segundo Salustre"; and the reference to the cinematographer Edgar Brazil, indicated by Adhemar Gonzaga and Humberto Mauro (based on his work in "Brasa Dormida" and "Sonho Mineiro") to work in "Limite". In the 30's, due to the lack of technical resources, Edgar Brazil used inventions and improvisations such as the use of a litter for scenes in movement and a lift to act like a crane, to overcome the difficulties and show the world of Mário Peixoto through his eyes.
The DVD released by VideoFilmes has subtitles in English, French and Spanish and the Making of "Limite"; fragments of "Onde a Terra Acaba"; and the documentary "O Homem do Morcego" in the Extras. Therefore, this DVD is mandatory for any student or lover of cinema or collector. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Onde a Terra Acaba" ("Where the Land Ends" literally, meaning "At the Edge of the Earth")
The director Sérgio Machado pays a great tribute to the life and work Mário Peixoto a.k.a. Maçarico by his close friends with this documentary, using his diary; footages of "Limite", the never concluded "Onde a Terra Acaba" (1933) and the short "O Homem do Morcego" (1980); and interesting testimonies of Olga Breno, Ruy Solberg, Nelson Pereira dos Santos and Walter Salles among others. The concern of Mário Peixoto with the irreversibility of time is clear, inclusive he tells that "time is an illusion". The title of "Onde a Terra Acaba" is homage to the 1933 movie that Mário Peixoto has never ended due to problems in the relationship with the greatest diva of the Brazilian Cinema of the 30's, Carmen Santos, who has a cameo in "Limite" and left the location in Marambaia many times during the shootings.
Sérgio Machado also uses or details many parts of the short "O Homem do Morcego", and among the most interesting parts I found the explanation of Ruy Solberg about the impossible request of Mário Peixoto of the Brazilian singer Roberto Carlos and the French actress Brigitte Bardot in the lead cast of his never made movie "A Alma Segundo Salustre"; and the reference to the cinematographer Edgar Brazil, indicated by Adhemar Gonzaga and Humberto Mauro (based on his work in "Brasa Dormida" and "Sonho Mineiro") to work in "Limite". In the 30's, due to the lack of technical resources, Edgar Brazil used inventions and improvisations such as the use of a litter for scenes in movement and a lift to act like a crane, to overcome the difficulties and show the world of Mário Peixoto through his eyes.
The DVD released by VideoFilmes has subtitles in English, French and Spanish and the Making of "Limite"; fragments of "Onde a Terra Acaba"; and the documentary "O Homem do Morcego" in the Extras. Therefore, this DVD is mandatory for any student or lover of cinema or collector. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Onde a Terra Acaba" ("Where the Land Ends" literally, meaning "At the Edge of the Earth")
