Currently available at the library is the 1959 Portuguese language film Orfeu Negro, or Black Orpheus. The film was directed by Marcel Camus and re-imagines the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. In Greek mythology, Orpheus is the son of Apollo, “whose mellifluous singing voice transfixes those around him and who must travel to the land of the dead to reclaim his lover;” this film offers a modern rendition of the Greek myth and mostly takes place during carnival in Rio de Janeiro.
The film was the recipient of numerous awards, including an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film in 1960. Recently, Arcade Fire used scenes from the film in videos for songs from their latest album, Reflektor. One of the Arcade Fire videos that offers a view of Black Orpheus is Afterlife:
To read more about the story of Orpheus, check out our book Greek and Roman Mythology. If you are interested in learning more about Greek mythology, check out our collection of books on the topic.