ABOUT THE FILM
Gerson (pictured above), a 79 year-old capoeira master
is imprisoned as a result of the Brazilian government’s
official persecution of the art-form. He struggles to
reconcile his experience of ostracism with capoeira’s
current popularity.
Ciro Lima, a younger capoeira master represents
a powerful, mobilizing force for effecting change.
Capoeira is his weapon for fighting the forced
gentrification which is taking place in the centre
of Salvador.
Set in Bahia, Brazil and driven by these two charismatic
but contrasting characters, the captivating documentary
strives to find the contemporary relevance of capoeira,
the “dance-fight game” that symbolized the struggle for
freedom.
The film addresses a number of critical issues including
the passing of tradition, the exploitation of culture and
Brazil's conflicted relationship with its own Afro-Brazilian
heritage.
Gerson (pictured above), a 79 year-old capoeira master
is imprisoned as a result of the Brazilian government’s
official persecution of the art-form. He struggles to
reconcile his experience of ostracism with capoeira’s
current popularity.
Ciro Lima, a younger capoeira master represents
a powerful, mobilizing force for effecting change.
Capoeira is his weapon for fighting the forced
gentrification which is taking place in the centre
of Salvador.
Set in Bahia, Brazil and driven by these two charismatic
but contrasting characters, the captivating documentary
strives to find the contemporary relevance of capoeira,
the “dance-fight game” that symbolized the struggle for
freedom.
The film addresses a number of critical issues including
the passing of tradition, the exploitation of culture and
Brazil's conflicted relationship with its own Afro-Brazilian
heritage.
NEWS
So, after a long and arduous journey, we're
approaching the end of the long, dark tunnel known
as postproduction. We're not quite there yet, though.
We are currently feverishly busy organizing some
fundraising events to help us raise the $10,000 we
will need to cover the film’s completion costs.
FUNDRAISER- Thursday August 14th
The incredibly hospitable management team at
Habana Outpost has been nice enough to let us
hold a fundraiser event at their restaurant in Fort
Greene, Brooklyn, NY.
7.30-10pm @ Habana Outpost
757 Fulton St. btwn S.Portland/S.Oxford
C to Lafayette Av or G to Fulton St
In addition to a screening of an excerpt of the film,
the event will also include:
- capoeira roda & live music
- DJ spinning global soul
- mind-blowing photo exhibition
- live/silent auction & raffle
- so much fun your head will spin!!
Film excerpt screening will be at 8.45pm
The event will be FREE to enter. All we ask is that
you come in a charitable frame of mind.
Tax-deductible donations can be made on the night
through our Fiscal Sponsor, Third World Newsreel.
T-shirts and other merchandise will be available for
sale. There will also be a raffle and auction for some
amazing one-off pieces donated by top Brooklyn
jewelers, designers and artists.
So please come out and support us in our aim to
raise completion funds for this awesome project.
HELP SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE!!
You can make a secure, tax-deductible donation through
our fiscal sponsor - Third World Newsreel.
So why make a donation? Well, in the first place
it's gonna help us finish this film that so many people
have expressed an interest in seeing.
As a further commitment, we have committed to
donating a share of the profits to a charity
established to assist with the financial support of the
older masters and their families.
In the words of Mestre Ciro Lima:
“There is no capoeira without masters. It’s not just
any man from Bahia that is a mestre de capoeira.
They are very special people. We have to show all
respect and reverence to these people that have
kept this art-form, this African sport, capoeira alive.
They struggled in an incredibly precarious situation
– black people were seen as slaves and being seen
as marginalized by Brazil, they were able to teach us
things that our biological parents could not".
Watch this space for absolutely, positively
the baddest T-shirts you ever laid eyes on.
the baddest T-shirts you ever laid eyes on.