For All: O Trampolim da Vitória

A cute light-hearted film, with non-realist and almost cartoonish elements of magic realism (the scenes inspired in advertisements from the 1940's must be highlighted) and of musical films (although not fitting that genre). While certainly not organic, or realistic, or deep, the film is charming and amusing. There are elements that could be in a heavy drama, such as war victims, political repression under Vargas regime, and Nazism, besides ruffian activity and prejudice against homosexuals, but somehow everything in the film is very light. The background is interesting: the interaction between local people in Northeastern Brazilian town Natal and military crew from the United States installed there in a base as part of the World War II. The story is inspired in a popular (but probably not true) version about the origin of the word "forró", a lovely musical style and dance from that region in Brazil. I consider as very surprising that this film is so unknown (I had never listened about it before!) given its cast: Betty Faria, José Wilker, Caio Junqueira, Paulo Gorgulho, Cláudio Mamberti, Marcelia Cartaxo, Edson Celulari, Luiz Carlos Tourinho, Cláudia Mauro...

That is another movie about the World War II. But I should say that it is a completely different one. There are no battle scenes. Most of the time, everything seems happiness. Interesting perspective about the interaction of the north-american soldiers and the curiousity of the northeastern Brazilians of Natal, on that time, only a small town. Maybe that is a pacifist manifest, like "don't make war, make love". The title is a theory about the origin of a typical Brazilian music style, caller "Forro". Some people say that it came from the free entrance nights of Natal nightclubs, when it was written "FOR ALL". The other nights, it was exclusive for the yankees. I just don't how could they dance without the Brazilian girls...

Tells about the period of WWII when USA stablished a military base in Northeast of Brazil, the changes for better or worse that made in the population.... Tells the story using actual characters, sometimes with jokes around the history.