At the time it was filmed the art of graffitti was an ever growing presence in many walls and empty spaces from major cities around the world, whenever possible,
and by art I mean really artistic shapes, designs and styles rather than just weird/ugly scribble from gang members or youngsters who want to leave their psyhical mark
or signature somewhere. Filmmaker Aloysio Raulino captured some of the many graffitti works spread through the streets of São Paulo, showing both poetic creations,
images and phrases that make a dialogue with society and also tributes to Marvel and DC super-heroes drawn on walls and subway bridges. As soundtrack, a random selection of tracks
from rap, popular music and even Nirvana are included.
The first few minutes are a little bit confusing since some more pyhysical representations outside of graffitti domain are presented, like the weird face sculputued that is carried by an invisible individual on Paulista Avenue, and also a sculpture of a face as if being out of a car door is carried out as the cars are stopped in the traffic. Then it all moves to the painted spaces with curious dialogues, quotes, being the most memorable a piece involving a person in jail with the phrase "Freedom is only a wider cell", painted on a beam located right next to the Carandiru presidium, two years after the infamous massacre. Raulino pans back and forth with both images, leaving plenty of space for audiences to make a full comprehension of such ideas.
I don't think none of those art works remain there (long time without going to those areas, north side of the capital) since there's always some changes made in those public areas, sometimes there are art works, other times it's bunch of superimposed advertising or just scribbles occupying the space. But when artistic works are presented the spaces become better represented, creating curiosity on each person and the artists talents can be evidenced - most recently some buildings from the downtown area are allowing for magnificent paintings to occupy the space available, paying tribute to artists from many art periods of Brazil history (not shown in here but near the Mercadão de São Paulo there's two buildings next to each other with one paying a homage to Bossa Nova legend João Gilberto, and a rework of Tarsila do Amaral "Operários" with gigantic faces alligned with each other. Both amazing to look at and no one vandalized them).
It's about expression, the values and significance of art in spaces that otherwise would just be common, bland things to view. Those art works change the places for better and people feel close to such expressions, sometimes even finding a way to create their own art, their own meaning or at times using as forms of protest. Amazing creations are made with those, and the folks with eyes to see them can admire them as long as they exist, or as in this movie's case, as long as they were captured on film. 8/10.
The first few minutes are a little bit confusing since some more pyhysical representations outside of graffitti domain are presented, like the weird face sculputued that is carried by an invisible individual on Paulista Avenue, and also a sculpture of a face as if being out of a car door is carried out as the cars are stopped in the traffic. Then it all moves to the painted spaces with curious dialogues, quotes, being the most memorable a piece involving a person in jail with the phrase "Freedom is only a wider cell", painted on a beam located right next to the Carandiru presidium, two years after the infamous massacre. Raulino pans back and forth with both images, leaving plenty of space for audiences to make a full comprehension of such ideas.
I don't think none of those art works remain there (long time without going to those areas, north side of the capital) since there's always some changes made in those public areas, sometimes there are art works, other times it's bunch of superimposed advertising or just scribbles occupying the space. But when artistic works are presented the spaces become better represented, creating curiosity on each person and the artists talents can be evidenced - most recently some buildings from the downtown area are allowing for magnificent paintings to occupy the space available, paying tribute to artists from many art periods of Brazil history (not shown in here but near the Mercadão de São Paulo there's two buildings next to each other with one paying a homage to Bossa Nova legend João Gilberto, and a rework of Tarsila do Amaral "Operários" with gigantic faces alligned with each other. Both amazing to look at and no one vandalized them).
It's about expression, the values and significance of art in spaces that otherwise would just be common, bland things to view. Those art works change the places for better and people feel close to such expressions, sometimes even finding a way to create their own art, their own meaning or at times using as forms of protest. Amazing creations are made with those, and the folks with eyes to see them can admire them as long as they exist, or as in this movie's case, as long as they were captured on film. 8/10.