Cine Líbero Luxardo screens the Pará film “Garimpo Bar” for free this Monday (06)

The Cine Líbero Luxardo, in Belém, opens its doors next Monday (06) at 8 PM for a free screening of the Pará film “Garimpo Bar,” directed by Amaury Pinheiro. After the screening, the audience will also have the opportunity to participate in a discussion with the short film's director, alongside documentarian Felipe Pamplona and actor Leonel Ferreira.

Amaury comments on the importance of screening the film in cinema halls like Líbero Luxardo. “Screening our film at Líbero Luxardo is immensely important because it is not just about presenting a work in the capital, but about occupying one of the most traditional cinema halls in the country. In my adolescence, I watched many films at Líbero, and today, being able to bring my own production to this screen goes beyond anything I imagined.”

Inspired by real events, “Garimpo Bar” depicts occurrences from the old city of Jacundá, which was completely submerged by the waters of the Tucuruí Hydroelectric Plant in the early 1980s. The narrative unfolds in two central settings: the diamond mining and the cabaret that gives the short film its name — both belonging to the powerful Colonel Antônio, a figure who dominates local commerce and politics.

The protagonist is Zeca, a young miner who dreams of becoming rich and escaping poverty. Working for the colonel, Zeca falls in love with Isaura, the most desired prostitute in the cabaret, who is also coveted by the colonel himself, willing to pay a fortune to have her as his exclusive mistress.

Isaura, in turn, harbors feelings for Zeca but fears the involvement and the possible consequences with Antônio. The character dreams of changing her life and living a true love story, in a plot that mixes desire, fear, ambition, and hope.

With a surprising ending, based on accounts from former residents of the city, the film recovers memories of a Jacundá that today remains submerged but alive in the memories of its inhabitants.

The plot also addresses the social and environmental impacts caused by the construction of the hydroelectric plant, which displaced entire communities and silenced part of Amazonian history. Among the central themes are the conflicts between love and money, tradition and modernity, submission and resistance.

Behind the scenes and curiosities - The filming of “Garimpo Bar” involved creative solutions and much local collaboration. The cabaret set was built in the garage of an old establishment that had been closed for years, and the rooms of the brothel were set up in an abandoned house located in another neighborhood. The mining locations, in turn, were chosen at the moment of filming. All the costumes were sourced from thrift stores in Belém, and various props were lent by local residents, the Museum of Jacundá, and the Jewelry Pole.

During the 20 days of filming, the city experienced cinema intensely — about 90% of the cast is made up of non-actors, such as housewives, teachers, businesspeople, and rural workers. The activity was so intense that some residents even believed that the old cabaret of the city had reopened.

To conclude, Amaury Pinheiro emphasizes the challenge and importance of producing cinema in the Amazon. “Making cinema in the Amazon, especially in southeastern Pará, is a great challenge. But we are bringing a work made with a lot of dedication and affection, which recovers part of the history of a city that, like many others, makes up this wonderful state called Pará. I am very happy that this premiere takes place precisely at Líbero.”

Service:

Film screening: “Garimpo Bar”
Free entry
Date: 06/10
Time: 8 PM
Capacity: 98 seats
Location: Avenida Gentil Bittencourt, No. 650, in the Nazaré neighborhood - Belém.
Food and drinks are not allowed in the screening room.

Text by: Maurício Carvalho / Ascom FCP

Foto: Divulgação