Modern updating of the Greek legend "Orpheus and Eurydice" set in Rio during Carnival. Local man meets a naive young woman from the country and they fall in love, but theirs is a doomed affair: he's set to marry a man-hungry spitfire and she's being stalked by a mysterious admirer in costume. French-Brazilian co-production was an international hit and won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, so it's rather a pity it isn't better. There's wonderful music by Luiz Bonfá and Antonio Carlos Jobim, local ambiance and romance, but the story is awfully creaky by now, and the direction is flat and inexpressive. The color cinematography gives the film a tasty allure, but this verbose plot is ready-built for tragedy, and ultimately all we are left with is the locale and the pretty samba music. *1/2 from ****
Review of Black Orpheus
