Miúcha, a Voz da Bossa Nova (Miúcha, the Voice of Bossa Nova)

The music style Bossa Nova has its origins in Brazil where it became popular during the mid-1950s, for the country it was a time of optimism and confidence. Though this spirit was to be tragically short-lived, its child, the Bossa Nova, conquered the music world. With its poetic lyrics, catchy melodies, and danceable rhythms, it soon started to inspire American jazz musicians and eventually grew into a global phenomenon. The Bossa Nova is inseparably joint to the voice of the Brazilian singer and composer Heloísa Buarque de Hollanda, known as Miúcha but her name is only mentioned in conjunction with those of famous male collaborators like Tom Jobim, João Gilberto (her once husband), Chico Buarque (her brother), the poet Vinícius de Moraes, and American saxophonist Stan Getz. In a vibrant film portrait, Daniel Zarvos and Liliane Mutti depict Miúcha’s determination as she struggles to be recognized as an independent artist and fights the myths of femininity that would only allow for supporting roles. The filmmakers had access to the artist’s extraordinary private archive; letters, diaries, photographs, 16mm amateur footage, sound recordings, and Miúcha’s water colour drawings which were animated for the film. With their decision to exclusively focus on this material, they made sure that the musician really and truly speaks for herself, in her own words, her own voice, and the voice of Bossa Nova. Liliane Mutti, responsible for the screenplay, calls this music-packed, fast-paced film a “feminist road movie” – leading part: Miúcha