NEON BULL

A local institution, the vaquejada is a rodeo held in North-Eastern Brazil in which two men on horseback try to bring down a bull by grabbing him by the tail. That is where Iremar works, caring for and preparing the bulls; he lives in a truck used for transporting the animals, along with two colleagues: Galega, an exotic dancer and the mother of a spirited little girl, and Zé, who also works with the bulls. While the region is changing under the influence of a burgeoning textile industry, Iremar dreams that his life could also change if only he would let himself do — and be — what he truly wants. Presented at the Venice and Toronto Festivals, this new film by Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro (August Winds) is an energetic and sensual behind-the-scenes look at a crude, secretive and colourful world. Reminiscent of the work of Nicholas Ray, Neon Bull tackles the personal and the political against a backdrop of gorgeous Brazilian landscapes, resulting in a work both touching and dynamic.