Tropicalia

Tropicália, or Tropicalism, is one of Brazil's most significant cultural movements. Born in the late 1960s by a collective of like-minded souls, it used music and visual arts as a voice to confront the cultural and political establishment. And now the scene and its key players are explored in Marcelo Machado's fascinating new film Tropicália. This vibrant feature documentary explores this iconic and era-changing time in Brazil's history with material lovingly gleaned from the archives, stunning images, and the testimony of the group's protagonists including Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Tom Zé, Arnaldo and Sérgio Dias, from the band Os Mutantes, whose controversial thoughts, music and behaviour resulted in prison and exile for its leaders. Then of course there is the music, the Tropicalistas created pop songs, mixing traditional Brazilian folk and the north hemisphere's rock which created a sound never heard before and which has since inspired and influenced many high profile musicians including David Byrne, Damon Albarn and Beck. Director Marcelo Machado grew up listening to the music and was inspired to document this influential, important scene in Tropicália which comes to UK cinemas on 5 July 2013 followed by a DVD release on 7 July 2013 from Mr Bongo Films. Tropicália tells the story of the cultural movement with the same name that was born in the late 1960s in Brazil. Headed by the musicians Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, the Tropicalist movement made a big impact in the popular music scene, and had a huge intense presence in Brazilian television, press and radio.