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Amy Irving, Antônio Fagundes, Alexandre Borges, Debora Bloch, Drica Moraes ... see more see more... , Giovanna Antonelli , Rogério Cardoso , Sergio Loroza , Flavio Sao Thiago , Alberto de Mendoza , Pedro Cardoso , Stephen Tobolowsky , Kazuyo Matsui

Recalling late period films from Francois Truffaut and American 1930s screwball comedies, Bruno Barreto directs this elegant romantic comedy set in Brazil. Mary Ann Simpson (Amy Irving) is a middle-ag... read more read more...ed American widow teaching English in Rio de Janeiro. Since her pilot husband died two years previously, Mary Ann has more or less dispensed with any ideas of a second chance at love. When one of her nubile young students mentions that she found her perfect match, Mary Ann insists that one can only meet Mr. Right in the flesh. Later, she shares an elevator with suave attorney Pedro Paulo (Antonio Fagundes), who is in the throes of a painful transition after his wife Tania (Debora Bloch) dumped him for a tai chi instructor. Pedro is struck by Mary Ann immediately, and he decides to sign up for one of her classes even though he is thoroughly fluent in English. Meanwhile, soccer ace Acacio (Alexandre Borges) is struggling through Mary Ann's language classes in order to play for a U.K. team. The good-looking athlete flirts with his teacher for a while, complicating things for Pedro Paulo, before becoming infatuated with Pedro's sexy law clerk. This film was screened at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Flixster Users

53% liked it

1,395 ratings

Critics

76% liked it

29 critics

R, 1 hr. 33 min.

Directed by: Bruno Barreto

Release Date: April 28, 2000

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DVD Release Date: October 3, 2000

Stats: 54 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (54)

  • InaHH
    February 23, 2006
    InaHH
    It's hardly like me to give such good ratings to romantic films, but for anyone who loves Rio and Brazil this must be the quintessential love film. Funny, fast, romantic, wonderful shots of Rio.

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Critic Reviews

Doris Toumarkine
January 3, 2007
Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International

A splashy, slick, tuneful, rigorously old-fashioned romantic comedy. Full Review

Brent Simon
July 18, 2003
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today

Some strands play out a little more successfully than others, but Bossa Nova is overall a small, sweet movie steeped in affairs of the heart. Full Review

Jeffrey Westhoff
March 27, 2003
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

A breezy confection of Brazilian pop.

Philip Martin
July 31, 2002
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

... an homage to Truffaut's early romantic comedies buoyed by a soundtrack replete with Jobim tunes

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
March 13, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

An enchanting testimony to Oscar Wilde's view: love does bring warmth and richness to life. Full Review

Chuck Rudolph
March 24, 2001
Chuck Rudolph, Matinee Magazine

[Barreto] finds the right tone for every scene, be it light or heavy, funny or dramatic. Full Review

Jorge Avila Andrade
March 14, 2001
Jorge Avila Andrade, Moviola

La cadencia y el romance generado por la propia naturaleza de la música hace de Bossa Nova un romance de altura, de gran madurez y sumamente elegante Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
September 7, 2011
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

July 21, 2005
Houston Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

Kevin Thomas
August 15, 2002
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Click to read the article Full Review

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