On Tuesday, Brazilian-Lebanese filmmaker and journalist Arnaldo Jabour passed away at the age of 81 due to a stroke, as confirmed by his family. His wife, Suzana Villas Boas, wrote on Instagram, "Jabour became a star, my son lost his father, and Brazil lost a great Brazilian." Born in Rio de Janeiro on December 12, 1940, Arnaldo Jabour was part of the "Cinema Novo" movement, a new wave in Brazilian cinema that began in the 1960s.
Among the notable actors he worked with was the famous Sonia Braga in the film "Yo te amo," which was screened in the "Un Certain Regard" section at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival. Two of Jabour's feature films competed in the official selection at Cannes: "Pindorama" in 1971 and "Eu sei que vou te amar" ("Tell Me About Love"). Fernanda Torres, the lead actress in the latter, won the Best Actress award in 1986. His film "Toda desnudez será castigada" ("All Nudity Will Be Punished"), inspired by a famous play by playwright Nelson Rodrigues, won the Silver Bear award at the 1973 Berlin Festival.
Arnaldo Jabour was also known for his sharp commentary as a commentator for TV Globo and as an opinion writer for the daily newspaper O Globo. The newspaper recalled in a tribute published on Tuesday that he "sought in his films as well as in his articles to observe Brazilian society, understand its contradictions, and criticize its insidious aspects." The late Brazilian director had completed his film "Meu ultimo desejo" ("My Last Wish") shortly before the outbreak of the coronavirus, which has yet to be shown in theaters.
