Nothing beats seeing Wagner Moura, Kleber Mendonça Filho and the entire cast of The Secret Agent No Oscar to show the world a little bit of what Brazilian sauce is all about.
Looking more specifically at Pernambuco, where the film takes place and which I visited twice, it's enchanting to perceive the colors, the joy, the care, and the creativity present in the local design.
Starting with frevo. Although it's a dance, its entire visual universe (colorful umbrellas, costumes, banners, giant puppets, etc.) reveals a rich repertoire of cultural references, colors, cutouts, materials, and textures. It's a vibrant and euphoric visual experience.
The identity of Pernambuco also features very distinctive characters, such as La Ursa and Perna Cabeluda, who even appears in... The Secret Agent. They contribute to an aesthetic that borders on the surreal, especially in carnival and local crafts.
And of course, I couldn't fail to mention cordel, a graphic style very characteristic of the Northeast of Brazil, which is also present in Pernambuco, with its woodcuts and unique visual narratives.
Against the grain of minimalist trends“aesthetic”Perhaps this serves as a good reminder: to value, cherish, and disseminate a visual culture that has soul, joy, and, above all, It has the sauce.