DVD 5 x Machado - by Machado de Assis

The greatest Brazilian writer and Rio chronicler of the 19th century, Machado de Assis was released for the first time with a collection of five of his best short stories adapted for audiovisual, in 2019 on ABL. The series addresses themes characteristic of Machado's universe, such as romantic and friendship relationships, passions, personal ambitions, popular customs and social behavior that portray Rio's society during the Second Reign, in which the presence of slavery is invariably highlighted. With an accurate recreation of the period, five filmmakers, Jom Tob Azulay (also producer of the series), Liloye Boubli, Mario da Silva, Helena Lustosa and Otávio Bezerra respectively direct the stories Uns Braços, O Conto da Vara, Theory of the Medalhão, Entre Santos and A Visit from Alcibiades, giving each story original and thought-provoking interpretative insights. The actors, most of whom are newcomers or non-professionals, reveal a sometimes surprising spontaneity in their performances. Exceptionally, the performance of veteran Tonico Pereira stands out. Praised by the late Eduardo Portella, the series features a testimony from academic Geraldo Carneiro and a presentation from critic and poet Affonso Romano de Santana.