The Vancouver International Film Festival presents:
The Violin Teacher (Brazil, 2015, 102min)
Dir. Sérgio Machaco
Friday, December 9, 2016, 6:30pm
Saturday, December 10, 2016, 5pm
Sunday, December 11, 2016, 3pm
Tuesday, December 13, 2016, 7pm
Wednesday, December 14, 2016, 9pm
Thursday, December 15, 2016, 5pm
Tuesday, December 20, 2016, 3:59pm
Vancity Theatre
After failing to be admitted into the renowned São Paulo Symphonic Orchestra, Laerte, a talented violinist, is forced to give music classes to teenagers in a public school in Heliopolis, the biggest favela of Brazil. His path is full of difficulties but the transforming power of music and the friendship arising between the professor and his students open the doors into a new world. Based on a true story.
“A potential crowd-pleaser with a refreshingly different perspective on the problems of modern Brazil, the story of a talented violin player reluctantly employed as a teacher in one of Brazil’s biggest slums is a slow-burning charmer fuelled by an attractive performance from lead actor Lazaro Ramos and a rich soundtrack that ranges from rap to Paganini.
“[The film] carefully sidesteps the easy option of overt melodrama and tearjerking sentimentality in favour of honest emotion and well-crafted, quietly engaging storytelling.” Allan Hunter, Screen
“Given depth and character by the still-waters charisma of star Lazaro Ramos — plus a lively soundtrack that cannily fuses classical standards with favela beats.” Guy Lodge, Variety