Ruy Guerra
Encyclopedia
Ruy Alexandre Guerra Coelho Pereira (born August 22, 1931) is a film director
, screenwriter
, film editor, and actor
in Brazil
. Guerra was born a Portuguese
citizen in Lourenço Marques (today Maputo
) in Moçambique, when it was still a colony of Portugal
.
Guerra studied at IDHEC film school in Paris
from 1952. In 1958 he started his career as an assistant director in several French films. Later on he immigrated to Brazil
, where he directed his first feature film, Os Cafajestes
(1962). It was entered into the 12th Berlin International Film Festival
.
In 1964, Guerra directed Os Fuzis
, which placed him in the forefront of the emerging Cinema Novo
movement. The film was entered into the 14th Berlin International Film Festival
where it won the Silver Bear Extraordinary Jury Prize.
After that he directed the international production Tendres Chasseurs (1969) starring Sterling Hayden
, and Os Deuses e os Mortos
(1970). The tumultuous political landscape in 1970's Brazil forced Guerra to stop filming until 1976, when he directed A Queda
. The film was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film Festival
, where it won the Silver Bear - Special Jury Prize
.
In 1980 he returned to Mozambique where he shot Mueda, Memória e Massacre, that country's first feature film. While in Mozambique, Guerra shot many short films and helped the creation of the National Institute for Cinema.
In 1982 Guerra shot Eréndira
in Mexico
, based on the work by Gabriel García Márquez
. He also directed the musical comedy A Ópera do Malandro (1985), based on Chico Buarque
's free theatrical adaptation of Bertold Brecht's Threepenny Opera; the TV film Os Amores Difíceis, another adaptation of García Márquez; and Kuarup
(1989). In 2000 Guerra's Estorvo
was nominated for the Golden Palm at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival
. It was Guerra's third nomination in the festival, after Erêndira and Kuarup.
Guerra has appeared in many films as an actor; he is perhaps best known to international audiences for his performance as the doomed Pedro de Ursúa
in Werner Herzog
's Aguirre, the Wrath of God
(1972).
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:...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, film editor, and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
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...
. Guerra was born a Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
citizen in Lourenço Marques (today Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
) in Moçambique, when it was still a colony of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Guerra studied at IDHEC film school in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
from 1952. In 1958 he started his career as an assistant director in several French films. Later on he immigrated to 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...
, where he directed his first feature film, Os Cafajestes
Os Cafajestes
Os Cafajestes is a 1962 Brazilan crime film directed by Ruy Guerra. It was entered into the 12th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Per Aabel* Norma Bengell - Leda* Hugo Carvana* Lucy de Carvalho - Vilma* Germana de Lamare* Marina Ferraz...
(1962). It was entered into the 12th Berlin International Film Festival
12th Berlin International Film Festival
The 12th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 22 to July 3, 1962.-Jury:* King Vidor * André Michel* Emeric Pressburger* Hideo Kikumori* Dolores del Río* Jurgen Schildt* Max Gammeter* Günther Stapenhorst* Bruno E...
.
In 1964, Guerra directed Os Fuzis
Os Fuzis
Os Fuzis is a 1964 Brazilian-Argentine drama film directed by Ruy Guerra. It was entered into the 14th Berlin International Film Festival where it won the Silver Bear Extraordinary Jury Prize.-Cast:* Maria Adélia* Joel Barcellos* Leonidas Bayer...
, which placed him in the forefront of the emerging 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. The film was entered into the 14th Berlin International Film Festival
14th Berlin International Film Festival
The 14th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 26 to July 7, 1964.-Jury:* Anthony Mann * Hermann Schwerin* Lucas Demare* Jacques Doniol-Valcroze* Yorgos Javellas* Richard Todd* Takashi Hamama* Gerd Ressing...
where it won the Silver Bear Extraordinary Jury Prize.
After that he directed the international production Tendres Chasseurs (1969) starring Sterling Hayden
Sterling Hayden
Sterling Hayden was an American actor and author. For most of his career as a leading man, he specialized in westerns and film noir, such as Johnny Guitar, The Asphalt Jungle and The Killing. Later on he became noted as a character actor for such roles as Gen. Jack D. Ripper in Dr...
, and Os Deuses e os Mortos
Of Gods and the Undead
Of Gods and the Undead is a 1970 Brazilian drama film directed by Ruy Guerra. It was entered into the 20th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Norma Bengell - Soledad* Othon Bastos - The Man* Ítala Nandi - Sereno* Nelson Xavier - Valu...
(1970). The tumultuous political landscape in 1970's Brazil forced Guerra to stop filming until 1976, when he directed A Queda
A Queda
A Queda is a 1976 Brazilian drama film directed by Ruy Guerra and Nelson Xavier. It was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Bear - Special Jury Prize.-Cast:* Nelson Xavier* Hugo Carvana* Cosme dos Santos...
. The film was entered into the 28th Berlin International Film Festival
28th Berlin International Film Festival
The 28th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from February 22 to March 5, 1978. This was the first year the festival was held in February.-Jury:* Patricia Highsmith * Sergio Leone* Theodoros Angelopoulos* Jacques Rozier...
, where it won the Silver Bear - Special Jury Prize
Jury Grand Prix
The Jury Grand Prix is a Silver Bear award given by the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival to one of the feature films in competition...
.
In 1980 he returned to Mozambique where he shot Mueda, Memória e Massacre, that country's first feature film. While in Mozambique, Guerra shot many short films and helped the creation of the National Institute for Cinema.
In 1982 Guerra shot Eréndira
Eréndira
Eréndira is a 1983 Mexican drama film directed by Ruy Guerra. It was entered into the 1983 Cannes Film Festival. It is based on the short story The Incredible and Sad Tale of Innocent Eréndira and Her Heartless Grandmother by Gabriel García Márquez....
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, based on the work by Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez is a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America. He is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in...
. He also directed the musical comedy A Ópera do Malandro (1985), based on Chico Buarque
Chico Buarque
Francisco Buarque de Hollanda , popularly known as Chico Buarque , is a singer, guitarist, composer, dramatist, writer and poet...
's free theatrical adaptation of Bertold Brecht's Threepenny Opera; the TV film Os Amores Difíceis, another adaptation of García Márquez; and Kuarup
Kuarup (film)
Kuarup is a 1989 Brazilian drama film directed by Ruy Guerra. It was entered into the 1989 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Taumaturgo Ferreira - Nando* Fernanda Torres - Francisca* Cláudio Mamberti - Ramiro* Umberto Magnani - Fontoura* Ewerton de Castro...
(1989). In 2000 Guerra's Estorvo
Turbulence (2000 film)
Turbulence is a 2000 Brazilian drama film directed by Ruy Guerra. It was entered into the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Jorge Perugorría* Bianca Byington as Sister* Suzana Ribeiro as Sister's Friend* Leonor Arocha as Ex-Wife...
was nominated for the Golden Palm at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival
2000 Cannes Film Festival
The 2000 Cannes Film Festival started on May 14 and ran until May 25. The Palme d'Or went to the Danish film Dancer in the Dark by Lars von Trier.-Jury:* Luc Besson, President * Jonathan Demme * Nicole Garcia...
. It was Guerra's third nomination in the festival, after Erêndira and Kuarup.
Guerra has appeared in many films as an actor; he is perhaps best known to international audiences for his performance as the doomed Pedro de Ursúa
Pedro de Ursúa
Pedro de Ursúa was a Spanish Basque conquistador from Baztan in the 16th century. In Panama, Ursúa subdued a Cimarron revolt by tricking Cimarron leader Bayano into coming unprepared to negotiate a truce, but then captured him and sent him back to King Philip II of Spain...
in Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog Stipetić , known as Werner Herzog, is a German film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director.He is often considered as one of the greatest figures of the New German Cinema, along with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Volker Schlöndorff, Werner...
's Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Aguirre, the Wrath of God is a 1972 West German adventure film written and directed by Werner Herzog. Klaus Kinski stars in the title role. The soundtrack was composed and performed by German progressive/Krautrock band Popol Vuh...
(1972).