Cadência, A Brazilian Story of Culture and Football
Cadência is the second Brazilian documentary from director Daren Bartlett. Cadência builds an intimate picture of Brazilian football and its related cultures, divisions, and traditions, and what is the firm cohesion that creates the strong unified image Brazil projects to the world. The film's stunning cinematography immerses the viewer in the sights and sounds, the rhythm, the cadence of a city as it winds up for carnival, the biggest celebration of the year.
Insightful and passionate commentary from the late Brazilian football legend Socrates, combined with academics, artists and last but not least the people, combine to make this a powerful and poignant documentary. Simply a beautiful film.
- Bantam Films are proud to announce that Cadência has been officially selected to become part of the British Film Institute National Archive.
- Cadência has been selected to be screened at Harvard University for the students of 'Introduction to Latin American Studies: Modernity, Culture and Politics in Latin America'
- Cadência is also being studied at Wooster College Ohio as part of their course entitled 'Supermodels, Samba and Soccer. The History of Brazil'
"I saw Cadência on an international flight this fall, and thought it would be a great introduction to the history and culture of modern Brazil. I really enjoyed the diversity of cultural forms included, the amazing imagery, and the emphasis on soccer to tell the story of Brazil's 20th-century history."
Katie Holt, Wooster College Ohio.
Director's Q and A
DAREN BARTLETT DIRECTOR Cadência
What is it that inspires you so much about Brazilian culture? What made you move and live there?
Obviously for a filmmaker to be drawn to a particular subject there has to be an initial catalyst. Mine was in the form of Capoeira which I have been involved in for 16 years, which in turn lead me to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. These are both powerful and creative art-forms that ask a lot from the participants. If you enter seriously into the art-form, you will not only learn the art-form but you will learn about yourself. So for me this was the door that opened into myself and ultimately fortified me to be able to apply the creativity that filmmaking offers to such a rich vein of cultural diversity, to such an enthralling country as Brazil. After living in Rio for nearly three years, learning the language, pursuing my chosen art-forms to the highest possible standard, I feel that the generosity, attention and care the Brazilian people have shown me is reflected in the work I can produce about their lives and their cultures.
What was the catalyst for the Cadência story? What made you want to tell this story?
The real inspiration for Cadência was to be able to address certain aspects of Brazilian culture that I had come across during the making of my two other documentaries that are shot in there. The challenging dimension to Cadência was that the two other films were shot over several years; in contrast Cadência as a project could be measured in a few short months. This in itself was a real factor; being able to direct so much concentration and focus on a film is very rewarding and gives it drive and passion as a matter of course.
What were the most personal, memorable interviews for you?
Every interview can give you something, even if it is just a clear indication of what you are not looking for. I tend to make a lot of interviews. This helps me build a picture of the nuances of the subject, but I am always very selective about the inclusion within the film as too many opinions can dissipate the overall thrust of a particular line of thought.
During the course of filming Cadência we made some truly wonderful informative and poetic interviews - Professor Mauricio Maurad springs to mind - but for myself I would have to say that talking with Socrates was a great experience. He conveyed a certain informed grace as well as great humour, certainly worth the 36-hour, no-sleep round trip to get him.
Now that the film is finished, what does Cadência mean to you?
Finishing a documentary film is always a special moment of reflection and perhaps disbelief, that after so much endeavour you have arrived at the conclusion. The process of filmmaking is the essence for a filmmaker, the beauty of collaboration, the exchange of ideas, the harnessing of emotions... All these and much more are channelled in a given direction; this is a moment of creative flux and can give varied results. We hope always to meet with approval - that is human nature. I believe William Blake once said "All art is unceasing practise", which for me means practise we must.