Where Are You, João Gilberto? (2022)
Where Are You, João Gilberto?
”A documentarian searches for the elusive father of bossa nova, João Gilberto, in Rio de Janeiro.”
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Why watch this film?
This movie's MacGuffin is the search for João Gilberto, considered one of the fathers of bossa-nova in Brazil, so it's already quite eye-catching. However, it isn't a single search, as the documentary actually follows the steps of writer Marc Fisher, who obsessively sought out Gilberto before committing suicide.So this is a double pursuit: of a man chasing after another, and of a movie chasing after that myth. "Where Are You, João Gilberto?" is similar to "Searching for Sugar Man" in the sense that it involves a musical icon. It doesn't always work, but it certainly is quite striking due to its story and the infectious geographical and musical atmosphere of Rio de Janeiro, where it takes place.
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Plot summary
Thirty years ago, João Gilberto, the father of bossa nova, disappeared. He hasn’t been seen in public for decades. Documentarian Georges Gachot heads to Rio de Janeiro to follow the traces of his invisible idol, using the clues left by the German writer Marc Fischer in his book Hobalala.
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