Spamflix Revives Forgotten Brazilian "Cinema of Desire" at Lyon Film Market

In the lead-up to the 13th edition of the Marché International du Film Classique (MIFC) in Lyon, the Lisbon-based platform Spamflix is set to unveil an exciting restoration project called "Cinema of Desire." This initiative aims to reclaim a forgotten piece of Brazilian film history by reviving a trilogy of 1980s movies that confronted the country's dictatorship through subversive sensuality.

The first film in the series, "The Magic Eye of Love" ("O Olho Mágico do Amor," 1982), will be presented in a 4K restoration as part of the MIFC's Re>Birth program, which showcases heritage titles seeking restoration and distribution partners. Spamflix co-founder Julia Duarte describes the project as "very special," as these films were part of the New Cinema of São Paulo (Novo Cinema Paulista) movement, a short-lived but influential wave of independent filmmaking that emerged during the final years of Brazil's military rule.

The "Cinema of Desire" project aims to shine a light on this overlooked cinematic movement, which grew out of the "pornochanchada" genre - a blend of eroticism and comedy that was popular at the time. However, these films rejected the sexist moralism of their predecessors, instead giving a voice to women and using sensuality as an act of defiance against the repression of the dictatorship.

Spamflix plans to premiere the restored "Cinema of Desire" films in Brazil next year, followed by screenings at festivals and cinematheques around the world, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the death of filmmaker José Antonio Garcia and what would have been his 70th birthday. This initiative marks a significant step for the platform, which is best known for its focus on cult and avant-garde cinema, as it expands into the realm of film heritage and rights management.