Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus) poster & wallpaper
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Breno Mello, Marpessa Dawn, Léa Garcia, Lourdes de Oliveira, Aurino Cassanio ... see more see more... , Alexandro Constantino , Adhemar de Silva , Waldetar De Souza , Fausto Guerzoni , Jorge Dos Santos , Marcel Camus , Ademar Da Silva , Adhemar Feirrera Da Silva , Alexandre Constanino , Aurino Cassiano , Maria Alice

Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro) is literally what its title suggests: a retelling of the "Orpheus and Eurydice" legend enacted by black performers. This time the setting is the annual Carnival in Rio de J... read more read more...aneiro. Orpheus (Breno Mello) is a streetcar conductor; Eurydice (Marpessa Dawn) has just jilted her lover and is attempting to escape his wrath. Orpheus himself falls in love with Eurydice, whereupon her ex-lover, disguised as the Angel of Death shows up and kills Eurydice. To reclaim his lost love, Orpheus enters "Hell" (the Rio morgue) and uses supernatural methods to revive the dead girl. A multi-award winner on the international film scene, Black Orpheus features a samba musical score by Luiz Bonfa and Antonio Carlos Jobim. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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86% liked it

5,619 ratings

Critics

90% liked it

21 critics

PG, 2 hr.

Directed by: Marcel Camus

Release Date: January 1, 1959

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DVD Release Date: June 8, 1999

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Stats: 397 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (397)

  • pier007
    November 28, 2011
    pier007
    lyricism, magic, love, death, the real flavour of latin american joy for living. A tragedy in vivid colours and heavenly notes.
  • fb1216165431
    September 10, 2011
    fb1216165431
    Mythological love and chaos in the world's grandest carnival, Black Orpheus is a modern adaptation of the timeless tale of Orpheus and Eurydice that feasts on rhythm and visual splendor. Vibrant.
  • jarobb3
    February 20, 2011
    jarobb3
    I was skeptical -- I don't watch old movies. There's usually some anachronistic reference or humor that I don't get and then feel bad that I don't get then hate the movie for making me feel bad. And it's not that I LOVED this movie. The beginning is a little slow, some of the Car... read morenival dance scenes are a bit tedious (that's if you're not dancing along at home...which I was so no biggie) and Death is just a guy in a costume. But I was completely mesmerized by the second half of the movie. Without any cheap special effects tricks (they had movies in 1959?), this movie is, in a clichà (C)d word, beautiful. The iconic final scene might even bring a tear to your eye. (Thanks Rach!)
  • bottcorecords1
    August 23, 2010
    bottcorecords1
    1959's "Black Orpheus" is like some long-forgotten children's book of what the rest of the world, with it's exotic people and colorful locations might look like. Along the beautiful coast of Rio de Janeiro, we wander up through villages stacked at impossible angles against gigan... read moretic hills and mountains, as the city below litters the shoreline and paper ships dot the glimmering ocean. The story follow Eurydice, a country girl who's ship arrives in the harbor just in time for the "carnival", a fantastical time of dancing and celebration for the people of Rio. For the first 20 minutes of so of the film, there is almost no dialogue exchanged as we follow Eurydice through the city and up the side of the mountain, just the almost nonstop pulse of the samba rhythm pounding away as literally every person she passes on her journey is either dancing or performing music. Director Marcel Camus doesn't attempt to disguise his love of this culture as he packs every scene with life and color. Orpheus of greek mythology serves as the inspiration for Orfeu, the streetcar conductor who plays guitar and sings, and also charms every woman in the village. The beautiful Mira has him cornered into a proposal, but Orfeu forsakes all others the day he meets Eurydice. Eurydice arrives in town to hide out with her cousin, Serafina, away from a man dressed as death who's bee chasing her. Orfeu and Eurydice's story is told through the eyes of two young boys who see Orfeu as some sort of god (they believe his singing causes the sun to rise). Of course the tragedy parallels the original story of Orpheus and Eurydice, but the genius of this film is in the way it weaves the story into each aspect of life in Rio, from carnival and samba, to voodoo and government ineffeciancy. And even when the story turns heavy, there's just so much fairytale up on the screen it's hard to take things cynically. This is like a beautiful, arthouse version of "Slumdog Millionaire". When I watch a movie like Black Orpheus, I'm swept up in the mythology the film creates. I can't imagine there's anywhere on earth better to live than the village of Orfeu and Serafina, where you can buy groceries with a kiss and dancing cable cars roam the streets picking up stray girls.
  • kenstachnik
    July 18, 2009
    kenstachnik
    Gorgeous, touching, funny, beautiful and an absolute delight to watch. Marcel Camus' imaginative retelling of this Greek myth will leave you smiling, crying and dancing in your seat.
  • Chiefilms
    March 24, 2009
    Chiefilms
    Set in Carnaval season of Brazil so everything is overwhelming and flamboyant. The party atmosphere is set alongside
    alongside a modern interpretation of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice which has a subtle progression.

    Very good camera work and shots for its time. For t... read morehe most part the movie is all smiles, dancing, romancing, and drama between the sexes which gets gets to be tiring and annoying in certain cases. But it incorporates the legend heavily at the end with a great climax. Overall a solid and innovative film.
  • tsigur
    December 10, 2007
    tsigur
    The characters jump off the screen and I love the ending.
  • mjgildea
    December 12, 2006
    mjgildea
    A really wild retelling of Orpheus with fantastic imagery and music. A really fun movie.
  • hypathio7
    December 17, 2008
    hypathio7
    The Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice transplanted to Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. The French director directed a mostly Brazilian cast. Like O Brother, Where Art Thou?, music plays a big role in the telling of this story. In this case, it is the bossa nova beats of lots of dr... read moreums, some lyrical singing and guitar playing, and energetic dancing, which helps tell the story. Eurydice is visiting her cousin near the city because she is trying to escape death, this creeping guy in a skeleton costume. Orpheus has just become engaged to a girl who is flirty and a real looker, except his soul mate is Eurydice. The two meet by chance a couple times and quickly fall in love, death eventually catches Eurydice, and Orpheus has to symbolically go to the underworld to find her. There's a wise man sort of character who's a friend of Orpheus and a couple boys who want to be like Orpheus and assist with the romantic relationship. An at times celebratory, romantic, proud, jealous, suspenseful, always rhythmic movie.
  • lesleyanorton
    July 23, 2009
    lesleyanorton
    1950's Orpheus set in Rio during carnival time. Lots of drama, happy music, exuberant dancing and people skipping off set; great fun to watch. A Sunday afternoon film.

View All Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Michael Wilmington
August 3, 2006
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

One of the great musicals. Full Review

Wesley Morris
April 14, 2006
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

Even when the streamers, confetti, and brass bands aren't there, you can see and hear them. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
April 13, 2006
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

A riotous, rapturous explosion of sound and color. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Swarms of sinuous girls and children shimmy and race to the samba beat, which is insistent through most of the footage. That's what makes the picture alive. Full Review

Christopher Long
August 27, 2010
Christopher Long, Movie Metropolis

The samba and bossa nova beats arent just score; they comprise the very environment of the film, as fundamental a force as the wind or the sun Full Review

James Kendrick
August 24, 2010
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk

its romanticized perspective makes it all seem in hindsight a bit shallow and facile Full Review

Sean Axmaker
August 17, 2010
Sean Axmaker, Parallax View

The vibrant color of the costumes and settings and the energetic beat of the music and dance creates an intoxicating atmosphere... Full Review

Peter Canavese
July 31, 2010
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews

Seductive blend of mythology and travelogue...there's still sensual pleasure in the urban scenery, colorful visions, and music and dance, most of it defined by joyful abandon. [Blu-ray] Full Review

Pablo Villaca
April 27, 2009
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

O belo conceito de Vinícius e a magnífica música de Tom Jobim não conseguem salvar este filme que, apesar de esteticamente impecável (ou talvez por isso), confunde alegoria e caricatura.

Cole Smithey
April 12, 2009
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Infectious Samba and Bossa Nova rhythms permeate the beautifully filmed earthy Brazilian atmosphere of Carnival. "Black Orpheus" is an unforgettable classic of cinematic poetry, music, and myth. Full Review

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