Pornochanchada
Encyclopedia
Pornochanchada is the name given to a genre of sexploitation film
s produced in Brazil
that was popular during the 1970s and early 1980s. Its name combined pornô (porn
) and chanchada
(light comedy
).
Pornochanchadas were initially produced in the downtown quarter of São Paulo
that was nicknamed "Boca do Lixo
" ("Garbage Mouth"). The genre was usually seen as a part of low-budget films produced there, collectively known as cinema da Boca
("movies of the Mouth"). Later, there were productions in Rio de Janeiro
as well, creating the sub-genre pornochanchada carioca
, which was to find its star in Alba Valeria during early 1980s.
Pornochanchadas were generally in line with "sex comedies" produced in other countries, but also featured some Brazilian peculiarities. The prominent actresses were Helena Ramos, Matilde Mastrangi
, Aldine Müller, Sandra Bréa, Nicole Puzzi, Monique Lafond, Nádia Lippi, Patrícia Scalvi, Rossana Ghessa, Zilda Mayo, Zaíra Bueno, Kate Lyra, Vanessa Alves, Meire Vieira, Adele Fátima, and Marta Anderson. After the end of the pornochanchada era, they moved to telenovela
s and/or more mainstream genres of cinema. Actresses like Vera Fischer
and Sônia Braga
have also appeared in pornochanchadas. The most popular actors were David Cardoso (presented as the symbol of Brazilian machismo
, who was also a director and the owner of the production company Dacar) and Nuno Leal Maia. Among the distinguished director
s of the genre were Ody Fraga, Tony Vieira and Jean Garret.
Despite conditions of strict censorship in Brazil in that era, the state-run film company Embrafilme was generally eager to support pornochanchadas, because they weren't critical of the government and did not depict explicit sex. Producers became increasingly dependent on pornochanchadas to compete with American films and to guarantee immediate returns. As the genre's success grew, the term began to be indiscriminately applied to various types of films that focused on sexual relationships. Some Nélson Rodrigues
adaptations were among such films. By the 1980s, with the availability of hardcore pornography
through clandestine video cassettes, the genre suffered a considerable decline.
After the end of the military regime in 1985, repressive measures on cinema and television were lifted, marking a virtual end for pornochanchada. The Brazilian Constitution
of 1988, and the subsequent Fernando Collor’s government termination of Embrafilme in 1990, marked the end of the era of nudity and sex as a means of drawing mass audiences to Brazilian movies. It brought to a close a generation of directors, writers and actors associated since the sixties with the Cinema Novo
movement, many of whom were involved at one time or another with pornochanchadas.
Sexploitation
Sexploitation, or "sex-exploitation", describes a class of independently produced, low-budget feature films generally associated with the 1960s and serving largely as a vehicle for the exhibition of non-explicit sexual situations and gratuitous nudity. The genre is a subgenre of exploitation films...
s produced in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
that was popular during the 1970s and early 1980s. Its name combined pornô (porn
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
) and chanchada
Chanchada
Chanchada is the name of a genre of Brazilian comedies, often musical. Its name , coming from the Paraguayan Spanish slang and meaning "mess", "trash", "trick", implied the ease in accessibility of these films' content to a culturally deprived audience.In 1935, the company Cinédia of Rio de...
(light comedy
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
).
Pornochanchadas were initially produced in the downtown quarter of São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
that was nicknamed "Boca do Lixo
Boca do Lixo
Boca do Lixo is the popular name given to Santa Efigênia area between the streets Rua do Triunfo and Rua Vitória, in Luz neighborhood located in downtown of São Paulo. Boca was usually characterized by its night clubs and sexual services establishments. The area was also home to a flourishing...
" ("Garbage Mouth"). The genre was usually seen as a part of low-budget films produced there, collectively known as cinema da Boca
Mouth of Garbage Cinema
Garbage Mouth film is the collective name for a film genre associated with the Boca do Lixo area of São Paulo, Brazil. On par with Italian giallo and American slasher films, films of this genre are exploitational and often considered B movies...
("movies of the Mouth"). Later, there were productions in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
as well, creating the sub-genre pornochanchada carioca
Carioca
Carioca is a Portuguese adjective or demonym that is used to refer to the native inhabitants of the city of Rio de Janeiro - capital of the homonym state , in Brazil...
, which was to find its star in Alba Valeria during early 1980s.
Pornochanchadas were generally in line with "sex comedies" produced in other countries, but also featured some Brazilian peculiarities. The prominent actresses were Helena Ramos, Matilde Mastrangi
Matilde Mastrangi
Matilde Raspa Mastrangi is a Brazilian actress.- Career :Mastrangi was originally a photomodel who also posed for the magazine Sétimo Céu. In 1971, singer Wanderley Cardoso arranged her to work as a dancer on Silvio Santos TV show.Mastrangi made her acting debut in 1974 with As Cangaceiras...
, Aldine Müller, Sandra Bréa, Nicole Puzzi, Monique Lafond, Nádia Lippi, Patrícia Scalvi, Rossana Ghessa, Zilda Mayo, Zaíra Bueno, Kate Lyra, Vanessa Alves, Meire Vieira, Adele Fátima, and Marta Anderson. After the end of the pornochanchada era, they moved to telenovela
Telenovela
A telenovela is a limited-run serial dramatic programming popular in Latin American, Portuguese, and Spanish television programming. The word combines tele, short for televisión or televisão , and novela, a Spanish or Portuguese word for "novel"...
s and/or more mainstream genres of cinema. Actresses like Vera Fischer
Vera Fischer
Vera Lúcia Fischer is a Brazilian actress of long-standing reputation and works in cinema and for the small screen, particularly for telenovelas. A former beauty pageant titleholder, she was crowned Miss Brazil in 1969.-Biography:...
and Sônia Braga
Sônia Braga
Sônia Maria Campos Braga is a Brazilian actress. She has been nominated for both a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award.-Early life:...
have also appeared in pornochanchadas. The most popular actors were David Cardoso (presented as the symbol of Brazilian machismo
Machismo
Machismo, or machoism, is a word of Spanish and Portuguese origin that describes prominently exhibited or excessive masculinity. As an attitude, machismo ranges from a personal sense of virility to a more extreme male chauvinism...
, who was also a director and the owner of the production company Dacar) and Nuno Leal Maia. Among the distinguished director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
s of the genre were Ody Fraga, Tony Vieira and Jean Garret.
Despite conditions of strict censorship in Brazil in that era, the state-run film company Embrafilme was generally eager to support pornochanchadas, because they weren't critical of the government and did not depict explicit sex. Producers became increasingly dependent on pornochanchadas to compete with American films and to guarantee immediate returns. As the genre's success grew, the term began to be indiscriminately applied to various types of films that focused on sexual relationships. Some Nélson Rodrigues
Nélson Rodrigues
Nelson Falcão Rodrigues was a Brazilian playwright, journalist and novelist. In 1943, he helped usher in a new era in Brazilian theater with his play Vestido de Noiva , considered revolutionary for the complex exploration of its characters' psychology and its use of colloquial dialog...
adaptations were among such films. By the 1980s, with the availability of hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
through clandestine video cassettes, the genre suffered a considerable decline.
After the end of the military regime in 1985, repressive measures on cinema and television were lifted, marking a virtual end for pornochanchada. The Brazilian Constitution
Constitution of Brazil
During its independent political history, Brazil has had seven constitutions. The most recent was ratified on October 5, 1988.-Imperial Constitution :Background...
of 1988, and the subsequent Fernando Collor’s government termination of Embrafilme in 1990, marked the end of the era of nudity and sex as a means of drawing mass audiences to Brazilian movies. It brought to a close a generation of directors, writers and actors associated since the sixties with the Cinema Novo
Cinema Novo
Cinema Novo was practised by Brazilian filmmakers in the 1950s and 1960s. In Portugal, Novo Cinema flourished after the 1960s, where it lasted, inspired by Italian Neo-Realism and the French movement of the New wave, the direct cinema techniques, and by the ideals the Carnation Revolution up to...
movement, many of whom were involved at one time or another with pornochanchadas.