The Samba Poet

We are in 1930s Rio de Janeiro. Noel Rosa is a middle-class white boy who lives in the district of Vila Isabel and enjoys himself the most when writing poetry. He is supposed to study medicine but prefers to use his time hanging out with the tough slum guys, factory girls and whores. His friend Ismael Silva introduces him to the world of samba and when he is challenged he answers by writing one of Brazil’s most popular radio tunes. It is called ”Com que roupa?” and is a parody of the Brazilian national anthem. Noel Rosa becomes the Samba Poet incarnate and sings himself through the golden age of radio in Brazil. The Samba Poet is a marvellous and life-affirming film! cvj