José Rubens Chachá

Uma Pitada de Sorte

Pérola is a children's party entertainer who dreams of becoming a renowned chef. She just hasn't gone out yet to fulfill her dream because of wanting to please her mother and family, but her "bit of luck" comes when she is approved to be an assistant to a famous chef on a television show, who, in addition to being famous and successful, is extremely handsome (and seductive), which makes the job easier.

Just Another Christmas

After taking a very nasty fall on Christmas Eve, grinchy Jorge blacks out and wakes up one year later, with no memory of the year that has passed. He soon realizes that he’s doomed to keep waking up on Christmas Eve after Christmas Eve, having to deal with the aftermath of what his other self has done the other 364 days of the year.

An Illustrated Story

This short documentary explores how the Ilustrada section of the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper had to fight back against censorship from the military dictatorship in Brazil after Lourenço Diaféria, one of its columnists, published an article criticising the patron of the Brazilian army, Duque de Caxias.

The Milky Way

A modern love story set in Sao Paulo about Heitor, a writer and literature professor, and Julia, a theatre student turned veterinarian. A fight over the telephone propels Heitor into a journey through the chaotic city streets to reconcile with Julia. Their personal history unfolds against the backdrop of the city and its people in a series of events representing the struggle between poetry and science.

What Is It Worth?

Free adaptation of Machado de Assis's short story "Pai Contra Mãe", having some of Nireu Cavalcanti's 18th Century chronicles as inspiration, the film traces parallels between life in during the slavery period and in modern Brazil.

Manual for Love Stories

Laura and Alan fall in love, but have to deal with the strange death of Alan's wife and with a rival, Lilith, who wants to break their relationship. At the same time, a narrator gives lessons on how to make a love story movie, exposing all clichés on that kind of film.

Desmundo

The story of Orisbela, a young and religious woman who comes from Portugal to Brazil to marry Francisco de Albuquerque, a rude sugar-cane plantation owner, in 1570.

Através da Janela

Selma, a retired nurse, is an extremely loving mother for his son Raimundo, in an almost incestuous relationship. One day, she becomes aware of some changes in her son's behavior. At first, she thinks it may be some girlfriend. But soon she learns it's something else.

A Soccer Story

Based on Zuza's testimony, the plot narrates the final of the Julio Ramalho Cup, a lowland soccer championship, in 1950. To face the rival team, Zuza had his friend Dico, later nicknamed Pelé.

Belly Up

Two hit men, a veteran and a beginner, chatter in a bar on Brazil-Paraguai border, while waiting for their victim to appear.

Ed Mort

A detective is hired by a mysterious woman to find her missing husband, a master of disguises, and important industry executive.

Mil e Uma

Alice faces a lot of trouble to make a film about artist Marcel Duchamp. She randomly chooses musician Antônio for the main part, and ends up having an affair with him.

Olhos de Vampa

A beautiful woman is found dead, with a peach in her mouth, a bite in her butt and without blood in the body. When other women are found dead in the same modus-operandi, the police gives the nickname of "Vampa" to serial killer. Detective Leôncio is assigned to investigate the murder together with fetishist photographer Oscar. Without any lead, they decide to follow a sexy and popular night-club dancer on the streets of São Paulo, trying to identify possible suspects.

Jenipapo

Michael is a U.S. journalist who works for a Brazilian newspaper. One day he is put in charge of interviewing Father Louis Stephen, a famed catholic missionary who helps the needy in the jungles of Brazil. Yet he has one problem: the Father has rarely ever given an interview. However, Michael decides that he will be the first to have interviewed the Father personally, and goes on a journey to the center of Brazil, in search of the priest. Michael will soon know how hard it can be to get an interview, and that the Father's apparent media-shyness has deeper implications than he thought.

A Causa Secreta

Theater director asks his actors for a research on human cruelty and misery in Brazil, while trying to raise funds for his next production, a play based on a story by Machado de Assis, "A Causa Secreta" (The Secret Cause). The troupe oblige and go around town witnessing long lines in National Health Services, inhuman conditions in public hospitals and poor people being constantly humiliated. They find people are becoming indifferent to human suffering.

The Journey

A young man living in a cold southern village in South America, decides to start a trip looking for his father. By doing this he discovers unexpected facts about his Latin American essence.

Kiss 2348/72

Worker Norival's life turns upside down when he is caught kissing his co-worker Catarina during work hours. He is fired for just cause and faces the hardships of the labor lawsuit he filed against the company.

Romance

After a man dies under mysterious circumstances, his girlfriend and his gay lover deal with his death in different ways.

Angels of the Night

Many exotic characters meet in São Paulo night, looking for love and adventure: Malu, a model; Mauro, a drag queen; Teddy, a hustler; Guto, a gay reporter; and Marta, an actress.

Jogos Clandestinos

After loosing all the money he borrowed from a mobster on a poker table, Tobias decides to rob an illegal casino. However soon he has a finger pointed at the vault of the casino for a much bigger price.