|
She
was an artist with
a unique voice,
without boundaries,
and she sang all
songs in a singular
way because she
didn't
interpret them; she
lived them. She set
a standard and
inspired many
singers with her
style. Her name is
Elis Regina
Carvalho Costa, aka
Elis Regina, one of
the best singers
from Brazil and in
the world.
He wrote songs like
an architect who
constructed
buildings without
harming the
environment.
Sometimes, he tuned
his ears to listen
to what Mother
Nature was saying
and composed his
songs. His name is
Antônio Carlos
Brasileiro de
Almeida Jobim, aka
Tom Jobim, one of
the best musicians
from Brazil and in
the world.
In early 1974, MGM Studios in Los Angeles hosted the two artists to record
an album, Elis & Tom. It was a dream come true for Elis, who received a
gift from her label, Philips Records. She had the option to choose anything,
such as a trip around the world, an expensive car, or a house. However, she
opted to make an album with the most famous Brazilian songwriter.
Thus, the composer and the singer went to work. She was an artist looking
for perfection; he was a composer worried about the arrangements of the
songs.
Then, what could be wrong? Everything.
At first, it is important to mention that Elis was the only woman among all
the people working inside that studio. This fact carries significant weight
and illustrates her remarkable strength. Second, Tom Jobim wanted
something more acoustic, but Elis had her own arranger, her husband
César Camargo Mariano, who preferred a more electronic approach. So,
the two began a lengthy struggle that almost kept the world from ever
knowing about this album. However, pure art found its way into their
minds and hearts, and all conflicts started to fade, allowing us to witness
the birth of a masterpiece.
As soon as the combat finished, and poetry totally dominated the
ambiance, they embarked on a journey to create what is considered the
great musical encounter. Roberto de Oliveira, the director of the movie
with Jom Tob Azulay, summed it up by saying, "Then, everything turned
out well."
The rare images captured by the director of photography Fernando Duarte
had been stored for more than 40 years (2024 will mark 50 years since this
recording) until Roberto de Oliveira, with pure intuition, decided that it
was time to share the backstage of this historic recording with the world.
The film places the audience inside the studio, enabling them to witness
the sadness and happiness of these two artists who are completely exposed,
transforming a movie session into a therapeutic experience and revealing a
bit of the secret behind the creation and materialization of inspiration.
And this is unforgettable.
*
Elis & Tom
(2023, documentary musical, 1h-40m)
Crew:
Directed by Roberto de Oliveira and Jom Tob Azulay; Screenplay by Nelson Motta and Roberto de Oliveira; Produced by Renata Leite and
Diogo Pires Gonçalves; Cinematography by Fernando Duarte and João
Wainer; Edited by João Wainer.
Cast:
Elis Regina, Antônio Carlos Jobim, César Camargo Mariano, Wayne
Shorter, Gerry Mulligan, João Marcello Bôscoli, André Midani, Roberto
Menescal, Elizabeth Jobim, Nelson Motta, Roberto de Oliveira, Paulo
Braga, Hélio Delmiro, Humberto Gatica, Ron Carter, Jon Pareles. And
Frank Sinatra.
(Photos: Copyright/2023: O2 Play)
|
