Black Orpheus
Black Orpheus Image
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Metascore
81 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 8 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.2 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 6 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Breno Mello, Léa Garcia, Lourdes de Oliveira, Marpessa Dawn
  • Summary: 1960 Academy Award Winner and winner of the Palme d'Or at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival, Marcel Camus's Black Orpheus retells the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice against the madness of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. With its magnificent color photography and lively soundtrack, this film brought the infectious bossa nova beat to the United States. (Criterion Collection) … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Ann Hornaday
    100
    A riotous, rapturous explosion of sound and color, Black Orpheus is less about Orpheus's doomed love for Eurydice than about Camus's love for cinema at its most gestural and kinetic.
  2. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Michael Atkinson
    90
    Camus's film remains a revivifying experience - and a mid-winter oasis. Born and bred in France, Camus made other films, and lots of French TV, but Black Orpheus may still be the greatest one-hit-wonder import we've ever seen.
  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not credited)
    80
    Pic is somewhat cerebral, being mainly helped by the fresh playing of the cast, especially Yank actress Dawn. Color is excellent, and director Marcel Camus gives this movement. (Review of Original Release)
  4. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Dave Kehr
    50
    This sort of thing was considered high art not so long ago; now it seems forced and ponderously symbolic.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 1 out of 3
  1. CharlesM.
    10
    This film is a visual and auditory delight, and the "life goes on" ending is absolutely beautiful.
  2. Jordan
    9
    Though the plot becomes predictable at some point, the visual and aural qualities that ultimately comprise the film's world more that other elements bring joy that's difficult to brush aside. Such joy is more resilient in the end than the simple plot.… Expand
  3. RemyM.
    2
    Grossly overated in its initial release, now the critics have another chance to fawn over this ultra boring nothing with a great theme song.

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