Casa Grande
Brazilian filmmaker Fellipe Barbosa's "Casa Grande" follows the story of the 17-year-old son of an upper class couple in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Courtesy Photo

Cinema Slate is proud to announce the New York premiere of “Casa Grande,” the acclaimed fiction-film debut by Brazilian filmmaker Fellipe Barbosa ("Laura," "Salt Kiss"). A critical and box office hit in Brazil, the film focuses on the sexual and socio-political awakening of 17-year-old Jean (Thales Cavalcanti), the son of an upper class white couple in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After an acclaimed film festival career, starting with a world premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and including three prizes at Toulouse CineLatino Fest and the opening night slot at last year’s Latinbeat film series, “Casa Grande” is finally set to open at Cinema Village on November 13, 2015.

A national expansion is expected in the following months, and a simultaneous VOD release via Fandor.com is already set for the same day as the film's theatrical opening. Amidst pressure from his parents to choose his future career and study for the university entrance exams, Jean ends up falling in love with Luiza (Bruna Amaya), a mixed-race girl in a nearby (but less regarded) school. As Jean and Luiza get to know each other, it becomes apparent that Jean’s father Hugo (played by seasoned actor Marcello Novaes) is trying to hide the demise of his hedge fund company. As their new reality sinks in, Hugo begins to fire his most trusted staff and to cut back on essentials at home. But despite everyone’s best efforts (Jean’s mother Sonia even takes a job selling cosmetics), this family’s economic troubles end up threatening their very survival.

A beautifully observed and acted story of class distinctions, race relations and family conflict, the film has the rare distinction of having started a national discussion in Brazil around issues of class privilege and racism. Fellipe Barbosa's capacity to gracefully tackle socio-political issues in contemporary Brazil, like the country’s “affirmative action” programs aimed at helping Afro-Brazilians, makes “Casa Grande” an essential film in the recent Latin American canon.

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