Christine_Devine's Blog

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I met Brad Pitt! Of Brazil! The Brad Pitt of Brazil, that is! Fabio Assunção.



At least that's what some fellow female movie goers told me. (As I stood there with my boyfriend.)
And I didn't actually meet him. But he was standing right in front of me, speaking at the Brazilian Film Festival. Check this link for the Brazil Film Festival:

LA Brazilian Film Festival Website

It was the FIRST Brazilian Film Festival ever. And a coup for the Brazilian community. CONGRATULATIONS Ambassador Quintella! She has fought hard to paint a different picture of Brazil... to expand the vision beyond thong bikinis, sexy Samba dancers, and crazy Carnival!

I LOVE this lady. She was the first female Ambassador out of Brazil and has held posts in the Soviet Union, England, Spain, Argentina and is now the Consul General of Los Angeles. It's her last post before retiring to Brazil in May. When you talk to her your conversation is so intelligent... talk of fuels made of corn, Brazil's black population and the history of slavery, the favelas(shanty towns) where my mom used to work as a nurse in the Peace Corp.

In my continued search for my family roots the Brazilian Film Festival was a chance to connect "with my people." Okay, the people on my father's side. "My people" on my mother's side are in upstate New York. But since I've never my father I'm on a constant quest for anything Brazil. I was first in line for the free "Havaianas"... a popular plastic thong that's made it onto the national market. Havaianas Website Their signature promotion is to have a thong-making stand at events. You pick your thong color... and jewel to be hole-punched into the strap. I picked army green... a Brazil flag logo. I loaded up my plate with coxhina... a chicken dumpling.(so tasty when hot from a restaurant like Bossa Nova). Bossa Nova Website While the movie had subtitles I tried to translate on my own.

The film festival runs through Sunday at the new Landmark Theaters near the Westside Pavilion. It was great to see opening night sold out. The opening film, "Bellini and the Devil", is a 90 minute thriller directed by Marcelo Galvão and produced by Theodoro Fontes. The cast includes Fabio Assunção, Nill Marcondes, Luisa Curvo and Marilia Gabriela. Three of the main actors attended the premiere. I imagined what it must be like for them for the movie to show in Los Angeles. Is that not the dream of every film maker? Hollywood, here we come! One report says that over 100 films are made in Brazil each year. OK, Hollywood here we slowly come. I had wondered who would attend this red-carpet event? There were about four cameras. Hey, it's a start!! So, back to Brazil's Brad Pitt. Some female fans tell me he was a big soap star in Brazil, was married to a model. Was it fun for him to be in L.A? Unrecognized? Unknown? Will he long for the paparazzi of home? It all only added to the mystery and my fantasy of Brazil. I have yet to go there, but will one day soon.

I'd love to hear your stories if you've visited Brazil. Did you feel safe? That's always a concern of mine given the crime and the tragedy of Brazil's impoverished children running the streets. Any places you recommend? Any great vacation spots?

Obrigado,
Christine