Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Closet Picks

The award-winning writer, director, producer, and critic shouts out a Marlon Riggs retrospective he programmed in Brazil, recalls watching Albert Brooks’s LOST IN AMERICA on VHS in the eighties, and shares how Agnès Varda became an “imaginary friend” to him when he made his film PICTURES OF GHOSTS.

[brazinterma]

Finally someone from Brazil inside this closet.

Finalmente alguém do Brasil dentro deste closet.

[leomonteiro.]

Kleber's picks:

0:33 After Hours (1985), dir. Martin Scorsese
0:47 The Spirit of the Beehive (1973), dir. Víctor Erice
1:35 The Signifyin’ Works of Marlon Riggs
2:05 Barry Lyndon (1975), dir. Stanley Kubrick
2:38 Lost in America (1985), dir. Albert Brooks
3:21 Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project No. 3 - film mentioned is Pixote (1981), dir. Héctor Babenco
3:51 A Brighter Summer Day (1991), dir. Edward Yang
4:11 The Complete Films of Agnès Varda
4:48 Don`t Look Now (1973), dir. Nicolas Roeg

[arminvanbuuren]

What a cool guy. I had no idea who he was but then I saw he directed Aquarius, which is a beauty

[NoirFan]

I knew when he picked up Scorsese's World Cinema boxset that Pixote was the film he'd talk about. Such a powerful, uncompromising film. One I doubt they'd dare to make today.

[ricliquid]

Neighboring Sounds is such an underrated film! Love Kleber

[orton_re]

Beautiful – an exquisite commentary that is also about why movies (sculpted on physical film) matter so much -- and why they feel more three-dimensional to some of us than glossy (and lifeless) 4K native digitals, a celebration of 'old Tech' and artistic endurance that is ultimately what all Closet Picks are all about.

[BrianBridges]

He was so calm and serious and respectful. And it makes me wish they would invite Rich Evans so he could trip and knock over every single disc on the Criterion shelves.

[catulotriste]

I've asked Kleber once about why he had put Suspiria in pictures of ghosts and he told me and the audience that was "eggs and bacon efect", he just put it on screen because it feels good. Cinema class for free in that day. Funny guy, funny games.

[madahad]

After Hours is greatly underrated and underappreciated. It would make a good double feature with King of Comedy (which needs to get a Criterion release at some time).

Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of Barry Lyndon and hopefully it will get a limited release in theatres similar to 2001 back in 2018. I'd love to see this on a big screen. Seeing 2001 on an IMAX format was astounding.

Don't Look Now was my introduction to Nicolas Sort and remains my favourite of his films. I was immediately taken by the fragmentary, nonlinear style which defined his best works. I think it keeps them fresh and engaging. They need to get a hold of Performance a d release it in a nice blu-ray package.

[tomsouzas]

I love Kleber's "Aquarius". It was the first film by him that made me appreciate his filmography.

[johnta]

Pixote is a classic and deserves its own box. It also is a huge influence on City of God.

[nevecampbell-ueon]

One of the best directors ever.
"Pictures of Ghosts" deserved a Oscar nom, well, awards don't mean anything.

[Leonardo]

Podia ter mais filmes brasileiros ai nesse closet ein

[flyingasuka]

@criterioncollection I apologise for bringing this up, but I have noticed a noise in the background of the last few closet videos. It sounds like a tumble dryer and it makes it difficult to hear the guest speaking. As a result, I have to skip those parts of the video. Could someone please fix the audio or the background noise so that it is easier to hear the guest? Thank you!

[deptofcarstereorepair]

This was great (though personally not a fan of Don't Look Now), would also love to see Gabriel Mascaro's closet picks!

[gustenhr]

We could use more South American gems in the collection.

[nintengy]

Barry Lyndon is legitimately one of the greatest films of all time.

[derekandres]

I really hope Kleber talked to the criterion curators about the lack of brazilian movies in the collection: we need a criterion treatmente for so many movies like " brasil station" "city of god" "brainstorm" "the year my parents went on vacation" "a wolf at the door"

[fernandooliveiralino]

Great choices and great words. Obrigado, Kleber. Check Aquarius, guys!

[thiagomattar]

😍Great. And now we want Brazilian Portuguese subtitles in every new release ;)

😍Ótimo. Agora queremos legendas em português brasileiro em todos os futuros lançamentos ;)