| Dzi Croquettes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Raphael Alvarez Tatiana Issa |
Release dates |
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Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | Brazil |
| Languages | English French Portuguese |
Dzi Croquettes is a 2009 Braziliandocumentary film directed byTatiana Issa and Raphael Alvarez about the dance and theater group of the same name.[1][2]
The Dzi Croquettes were a groundbreaking dance and theater group who used their talent and a mix of humor and derision to challenge the violent dictatorship that gripped Brazil in the 1970s.[1][2] Creating a new stage language that would influence an entire generation, this theater group revolutionized the gay movement despite being banned and censored by the military regime. Through interviews and archival footage of the group's performances, directors Raphael Alvarez and Tatiana Issa reveal the origin of the group, their relentless perfectionism, and their unexpected stroke of luck whenLiza Minnelli becomes a godmother of sorts to them. However, it also gives an honest account of the sadness of their final years when tension, egos, AIDS, and even murder ripped them apart. The film combines candid interviews with group members and current Brazilian and International artists, showing how this group never flinched from challenging conventional notions of acceptable "masculine" or "feminine" behavior.[2][3]
The film had its US premiere at the acclaimedMoMA (Museum of Modern Art in New York)[4] followed by theatrical release in the United States at the IFC Village Cinemas[5] in New York and Sunset 5 Cinemas[6] Los Angeles, besides theatrical release in Europe and Brazil.
The film received outstanding reviews in major newspapers such asNew York Times,[1]Los Angeles Times,[7]LA Weekly,[8]Film Journal International,[9]Time Out New York,[10]Village Voice, among others.