Os Imaginários (1970)

A short Brazilian documentary capturing the soul of Northeastern folk artisans and the quiet erosion of tradition in the face of commerce.

Os Imaginários - Movie Information

  • Original Title: Os Imaginários
  • Release Year: 1970
  • Directed by: Geraldo Sarno
  • Type: Movie
  • Genres: Documentary
  • Runtime: 9m
  • Original Language: Portuguese
  • Spoken Languages: Portuguese
  • Release Date (Theatrical): January 1, 1970 (Brazil)
  • Production Countries: Brazil

Os Imaginários - Plot

Pilgrims from the Northeast have the habit of buying images of characters in whom they identify exemplary behavior. By carving wood to shape these figures, the imaginary artists, artisans who make images of typical characters from the traditional Northeast, perpetuate a tradition that has changed over time. The ways of the traditional artist adapt to the demands of the tourism market and the dissociation between their conscience and the real meaning of the work to which they dedicate themselves.

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Os Imaginários - Cast & Crew

Director(s)

  • Geraldo Sarno

Main Cast

  • Othon Bastos

Producers

  • Thomaz Farkas

Os Imaginários - FAQs

What is Os Imaginários about?

Os Imaginários is a 1970 Brazilian documentary that examines Northeastern folk artists who carve wooden figures of traditional regional characters. It explores how these imaginary artists adapt their craft to tourism market demands, and how that shift creates a tension between artistic tradition and commercial reality.

Who directed Os Imaginários?

Os Imaginários was directed by Geraldo Sarno, a Brazilian filmmaker known for his documentary work focused on the culture, traditions, and social realities of Northeastern Brazil during the late 1960s and 1970s.

How long is Os Imaginários?

Os Imaginários has a runtime of approximately 9 minutes. Despite its brief duration, the short documentary offers a focused and insightful portrait of Northeastern Brazilian folk artisans and the cultural tensions surrounding their traditional craft.

Who narrates Os Imaginários?

Os Imaginários features Othon Bastos as the narrator. Bastos is a celebrated Brazilian actor widely recognized for his role in the landmark Cinema Novo film Deus e o Diabo na Terra do Sol (1964), directed by Glauber Rocha.

What tradition does Os Imaginários document?

The film documents the tradition of imaginary artists — artisans from Northeastern Brazil who carve wooden figures representing iconic regional characters. Pilgrims and locals have long purchased these images as symbols of exemplary behavior, a practice that evolved significantly with the rise of tourism.

When was Os Imaginários released?

Os Imaginários was released on January 1, 1970, in Brazil. It is a short documentary film produced during a particularly fertile period for Brazilian documentary cinema, closely associated with the Cinema Novo movement and the ethnographic work of producer Thomaz Farkas.

Who produced Os Imaginários?

Os Imaginários was produced by Thomaz Farkas, a Hungarian-Brazilian photographer and filmmaker who was instrumental in supporting a generation of Brazilian documentary filmmakers. His productions throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s captured the cultural richness of Northeastern Brazil.

What language is Os Imaginários in?

Os Imaginários is in Portuguese. It is a Brazilian production, and the spoken language throughout the documentary is Portuguese, reflecting the cultural and regional context of Northeastern Brazil that the film sets out to explore.

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