Elis Regina

Elis Regina

Birth : 1945-03-17, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Death : 1982-01-19

History

Elis Regina was a Brazilian singer of popular and jazz music. She became nationally renowned in 1965, after singing "Arrastão" in the first edition of TV Excelsior's festival song contest, and soon joined O Fino da Bossa, a television program on TV Record. Elis was noted for her vocalization, as well as for her personal interpretation and performances in shows. She recorded several successful compositions throughout her entire career. Her death, at the age of 36, shocked Brazil. She has frequently been regarded as the greatest Brazilian singer of all time by critics, musicians, and commentators.

Profile

Elis Regina

Movies

Transversal do Tempo
Self (archive footage)
The special documentary celebrates Elis Regina's 75th birthday and makes a parallel between Elis' extremely prevailing thoughts with those of João Marcello Bôscoli, Pedro Camargo Mariano and Maria Rita, her children, answering the same questions in the present time. All three talk about their childhood, their relationship with Elis and her artistic career.
Adoniran - Meu Nome é João Rubinato
Herself (archive footage)
Adoniran Barbosa bears the title of São Paulo's greatest samba singer of all time. Through the artist's personal collection, rare archive images and testimonials from friends and family, discover a multifaceted character who portrayed his São Paulo in songs and radio characters. Having the city as an auxiliary, the documentary draws a parallel between today's metropolis and the one lived by Adoniran.
Amigo Arrigo
Self (archive footage)
The art of Arrigo Barnabé, one of the pillars of the São Paulo experimental music scene during the 80's and author of critically acclaimed albums such as "Clara Crocodilo" (1980) and "Tubarões Voadores" (1984).
O Fabuloso Zé Rodrix
Self (archive footage)
Clara
Orphaned by father and mother, Clara has always dreamed of building a singing career. At the age of 16, she moved to Belo Horizonte, where she won the ABC Golden Voice contest. In 1966, she recorded her first vinyl: A Adorable Voice by Clara Nunes. The approach to samba made her achieve the longed for success, in addition to international repercussion. Clara Nunes revolutionized the music industry, becoming the first woman to break the barriers imposed by the record label.
Simonal: No One Knows How Tough It Was
Self (archive footage)
In a time of timeless and revolutionary talents, Wilson Simonal shined as nobody before and innovated as only a few could. All of a sudden, everything vanished. This film maps the spectacular trajectory of the ex-Army corporal that ruled as a monarch, and was condemned to ostracism for an offense to which he pleaded not guilty.
Rita Lee - Biograffiti: Cor de Rosa Choque
Self (archive footage)
Elis Regina: Falso Brilhante
Self (archive footage)
Elis was complete, she had all the attributes which differentiated simple artists from stars. She could enchant crowds in her albums, concerts and in video. Her music was always associated to the stage, site she mastered with brilliance. Throughout her career, these stages would open to her, from the radio days to the Montreux Jazz Festival. This film shows her magic relationship with stage and audience. And also the Bandeirantes theatre, her last stronghold. There she shone in life with her greatest success in theater, the show 'Falso Brilhante', which is also presented and entitles this film. There her body was veiled and her audience went to meet her for the last time, now for a farewell.
Elis Regina: Doce de Pimenta
Herself (archive footage)
She mesmerised the crowd. The first sight would rapidly disappear and anyone who would get closer would also be surprised. It is not known if she did it for "beauty or precision", as Guimarães Rosa used to say. But the truth is that stereotypes would be destroyed as soon as she would fetch her followers. And revelations would unfold. Behind her suavely acute and toned voice, there was a deep tone that only few could reach. Behind her humble upbringing, there was an uncommon sensibility and intelligence. Her disguise was her irrepressible technique. Elis was pure emotion. And singing was not her final objective, she really wanted to make people happy. This film honours Elis and creates a singular portrait of Brazil's biggest star.
Elis Regina: Na Batucada da Vida
Self (archive footage)
Her difficult career beginning in her hometown, Porto Alegre, was not different from her friends' stories. Elis belonged to a group of people born to win. She had the talent, she knew her potential and she just needed to face the world with courage and determination. That is exactly what she did. The result is known by everybody and it is in this film, a unique register of memorable interpretations by Elis, including the song which Elis learned with Tom Jobim and entitles the film.
Phono 73: A Country and its Music
Self (archive footage)
The biggest Brazilian historical festival of all time. The great cast of the 1973 Phonogram (now Universal Music) meets in three nights to protest against the curtailment of freedom of expression in those dark years of the dictatorship. With the images rescued in 2005, revealing exciting moments, containing the incredible presentations, it brings a team of all greatness and the opportunity to understand the path that Brazilian music has taken to the present day.
ABC of a Strike
Self (uncredited)
ABC of a Strike captures the 1979 metal workers strikes outside of São Paulo. The footage sat untouched until after the death of highly-regarded director Leon Hirszman in 1987, by which time the material had a new relevance. The gripping film captures the negotiations between the labor unions and the factory bosses and shows the birth of the region’s Worker’s Party, as well as the emergence of its charismatic leader, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Rising from extreme poverty, Lula gained national prominence as a union activist during the late 70s and early 80s. After being jailed during his time as a union leader, he eventually becomes Brazil’s president from 2003 to 2010.
Linha de Montagem
Self (uncredited)
Documentary about the strikes that took place in São Bernardo do Campo, in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, circa 1979/1980. That moment was of utmost importance, since it revealed a Union leader, Luís Inácio "Lula" da Silva, who would later become President of Brazil. It was also the moment when PT, the Workers' Party, became a relevant political force in Brazil.
Vinicius para Criança: A Arca de Noé
Self
Elis Regina: Teatro Villaret, Lisboa
Herself
Brazilian singer Elis Regina performing at the Villaret Theatre in Lisbon, 1978.
Elis Regina: MPB Especial
Herself
Recorded in 1973, this TV show brings Elis Regina in an 'ensaio' (improvisation). The programme aired by TV Cultura rescues the living memory of the greatest MPB star through her testimonials on composers and performers. The images are black and white and with camera close-ups, it denounces the restless, strong-willed hands of Elis.
O Som Alucinante
The Girl from Ipanema
Self (cantando 'Noite dos Mascarados')
Chronicles the life of a 17 year-old girl living in the upper-class Rio de Janeiro neighbourhood of Ipanema. Márcia lives a life of parties and spend her days among bohemians, musicians and intellectuals. While seeming happy in the outside, she's extremely anguished inside. Based on the famous song by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes.