Gilberto Gil on the Big Screen
Since his days in the group Doces Bárbaros, the musician has amassed a string of documentaries about his career, as well as narrating a number of films himself.
By Instituto Gilberto Gil
Chris Fuscaldo, journalist and music researcher
Cartaz do filme Os Doces Bárbaros (2004)Instituto Gilberto Gil
The Sweet Barbarians
Directed by Jom Tob Azulay, Os Doces Bárbaros (The Sweet Barbarians) was the first documentary featuring Gilberto Gil in the star role. Or, rather, in one of the star roles alongside Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, and Maria Bethânia.
Os Doces Bárbaros: Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil, Maria Bethânia e Caetano Veloso (Década de 1970)Instituto Gilberto Gil
The film documents the concerts that the quartet, which Bethânia christened Doces Bárbaros, gave in 1976. Their tour was interrupted when Gil was arrested for possessing cannabis in Florianópolis, the capital of Santa Catarina State.
Rehearsal and backstage of the Doces Bárbaros reunion (Dezembro de 2002)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Returning to His Roots
The first of many films that Andrucha Waddington and Lula Buarque de Hollanda made with Gilberto Gil, Tempo Rei takes the musician back to his roots. Shot partly in Salvador, the film sees Gil return to Ituaçu—the Bahian city where he had spent his childhood—for the first time since 1951.
Gilberto Gil durane as gravações do documentário Tempo Rei (1996)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Released in 1996, the documentary was made to celebrate Gil's 30-year career, taking the musician on a trip through his past alongside his friends and family. The film also features Stevie Wonder, Caetano Veloso, and Carlinhos Brown.
Ending credits of the movie Tempo Rei, with Gilberto Gil (1996)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Tempo Rei movie, starring Gilberto Gil (1996)Instituto Gilberto Gil
About Verger
Two years after the death of the Salvador-based French photographer and ethnographer Pierre Verger, a documentary was made about his life. The film features Gilberto Gil and was shot in the Bahian capital, as well as in Benin, in Africa. In this image, Gil follows a procession of Ketu people holding a picture of Verger.
Copy of the movie Tempo Rei, starring Gilberto Gil (1996)Instituto Gilberto Gil
In the footage shot in Salvador, Gil visits the priestess Mãe (Mother) Stella de Oxóssi at her terreiro (a sacred site in the Candomblé religion), as well as going to other places with a connection to Pierre Verger.
Gandhy on Screen
In 2000, it was the Bahian Carnival's turn to be the subject of a film, with Gil narrating once again. Shot partly in India, Filhos de Gandhy was directed by Lula Buarque de Hollanda and first aired on the GNT TV station.
Bastidores do Afoxé Filhos de Gandhy, no carnaval baiano (1999)Instituto Gilberto Gil
The afoxé music group "Filhos de Gandhy" was set up by dock workers in Salvador in 1949 and it would go on to become the largest afoxé group at the Salvador Carnival. Footage of the group's members parading through the streets was shot for the film.
Bastidores do Afoxé Filhos de Gandhy, no carnaval baiano (1999)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Bastidores do Afoxé Filhos de Gandhy, no carnaval baiano (1999)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil narrates his relationship with the afoxé group Filhos de Gandhy (1996)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Documentary Filhos de Gandhy, with the participation of Gilberto Gil, aired by the GNT channel (2000-02-21)Instituto Gilberto Gil
June Festival Documentary
In 2001, Gil started recording material for an album dedicated to the popular saints' festivals in Brazil: the June Festivals (Festas Juninas or Festas de São João). The live album São João Vivo was released that May. In June, while he was still wrapped up in this new project, the singer held his Arraial de Gilberto Gil show in Rio de Janeiro's Flamengo Park (Aterro do Flamengo). It marked the start of filming for the 2002 documentary Viva São João!.
Viva São João-8Instituto Gilberto Gil
Directed by Andrucha Waddington, the documentary focuses on the annual June celebrations in honor of St. John the Baptist (São João). The team toured the main cities in northeastern Brazil, where these popular festivals are an important event in the calendar.
Cartaz de divulgação do filme documentário Viva São João! Cartaz de divulgação do filme documentário Viva São João! (2002)Instituto Gilberto Gil
The poster for the film included the names of the artists that Gil invited to appear at his June Festival concerts: Elba Ramalho, Dominguinhos, Alceu Valença, Chiquinha Gonzaga, Sivuca, Margareth Menezes, Targino Gondim, and Alexandre Pires.
Viva São João-2Instituto Gilberto Gil
Film Viva São João!, With Gilberto Gil (2002)Instituto Gilberto Gil
In Jamaica
In 2002, while visiting Jamaica to record his Kaya N'Gan Daya album, Gil was filmed at the Tuff Gong studio where Bob Marley used to record, as well as on the streets of Kingston. The film, called Kaya N'Jamaica, would be included as an extra on a DVD in which Gil also celebrated the father of reggae's work by covering some of his songs.
Rita Marley no estúdio de gravação do álbum Kaya N'Gan Daya (2001)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Most of the documentary shows Gil in conversation with the studio team and the album's producer, Tom Capone. The presence of Bob Marley's widow and backing vocalist, Rita Marley, is touching: she explains that the song Positive Vibration, which Gil chose for the album, had been her husband's favorite.
Gilberto Gil conversa em sessão de fotos para o álbum Kaya N'Gan Daya (2001)Instituto Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Gil during recordings of the album Kaya N'Gan Daya in Jamaica (Novembro de 2001)Instituto Gilberto Gil
For the Saints
Returning again to popular saints, Gil released his Fé na Festa album in 2010. The tour, which did the June Festival circuit in northeastern Brazil, ended up being made into a new documentary. For the film, the musician also performed at the Retiro dos Artistas (Artists' Retreat), a place that takes in elderly artists who are experiencing financial or emotional difficulties and have nowhere to live.
Exhibition credits
Research, writing and structure: Chris Fuscaldo
General credits
Editing and curation: Chris Fuscaldo / Garota FM
Musical content research: Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo, Laura Zandonadi e Ricardo Schott
Ministry of Culture content research: Carla Peixoto, Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo
Captions: Anna Durão, Carla Peixoto, Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo, Daniel Malafaia, Fernanda Pimentel, Gilberto Porcidonio, Kamille Viola, Laura Zandonadi, Lucas Vieira, Luciana Azevedo, Patrícia Sá Rêgo, Pedro Felitte, Ricardo Schott, Roni Filgueiras e Tito Guedes
Data editing: Isabela Marinho and Marco Konopacki
Gege Produções Review: Cristina Doria
Acknowledgements Gege Produções, Gilberto Gil, Flora Gil, Gilda Mattoso, Fafá Giordano, Maria Gil, Meny Lopes, Nelci Frangipani, Cristina Doria, Daniella Bartolini e todos os autores das fotos e personagens da história
All media: Instituto Gilberto Gil
*Every effort has been made to credit the images, audios and videos and correctly tell the story about the episodes narrated in the exhibitions. If you find errors and/or omissions, please contact us by email atendimentogil@gege.com.br
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