Self
A feature documentary on the life of Alzira Espíndola and her impact and influence on different generations of Brazilian music. From her origins on Mato Grosso do Sul to her breakthrough as a instrumentist and composer in São Paulo, the movie explores her life, work and ventures with partners such as Itamar Assumpção, Ney Matogrosso and her sister Tetê Espíndola with irreverence and erudition.
Music
The São Francisco River crosses the Brazilian hinterland, lands marked by extreme aridity. This great river that was once impetuous and generous is now very fragile. Deforestation of its margins and overexploitation of land by intensive agriculture endanger the great diversity of its ecosystem. The lives of riverside dwellers are affected in its deepest integrity, as well as their areas. The São Francisco River is the vital flow of their existence and the central place of their hopes and imagination, but the general feeling is that if the river dies, everything will disappear with it. Women are at the forefront of resistance. They struggle daily to allow for the possibility of a future. Their children also claim this identity, which it is up to them to renew and make fruitful.
Music
Eu Maior (Higher Self) is a Brazilian feature-length documentary presenting a fresh look at self-knowledge and the pursuit of happiness. The filmmakers interviewed thirty individuals with distinct backgrounds, including spiritual leaders, intellectuals, artists and professional athletes. Their touching personal stories, combined with the film's beautiful images and music, are certain to appeal to any audience's intelligence and artistic sensibility. - Anonymous
