Spamflix Unveils the Cinema of Desire: Reviving Brazilian Film Heritage at MIFC
Spamflix, the renowned cult film distributor, is set to debut the Cinema of Desire project at the Marché International du Film Classique (MIFC) in Lyon. This ambitious restoration initiative, in partnership with the Cinemateca Brasileira, seeks to reclaim a vital segment of Brazilian film history. The highlight of this project is the 4K restoration of The Magic Eye of Love (O Olho Mágico do Amor, 1982), the first installment in a groundbreaking trilogy by directors Ícaro Martins and José Antonio Garcia. This film will be showcased as part of the MIFC’s Re>Birth program, which aims to spotlight heritage films in need of restoration and distribution support.
Julia Duarte, co-founder of Spamflix, expressed the significance of this event, stating, “This is the first market where we are presenting the project, and it holds a special meaning for us. These films emerged from a movement that was ahead of its time, inspired by the quest for freedom during Brazil’s dictatorship.” Set in São Paulo’s notorious Boca do Lixo district, The Magic Eye of Love tells the story of Vera, a secretary who stumbles upon a hole in her office wall leading to a neighboring hotel room occupied by a prostitute. This discovery ignites her fantasies and transforms her life. The film has received multiple accolades and marks the beginning of the so-called Trilogy of Desire, which also includes Onda Nova (1983) and Naked Star (Estrela Nua, 1985). Plans are underway to add a fourth film, The Body (1991), which represents Garcia’s solo effort. All four films have been meticulously digitized by the Cinemateca Brasileira.
The Cinema of Desire project revisits the New Cinema of São Paulo (Novo Cinema Paulista), an influential but short-lived wave of independent filmmaking that emerged in the early 1980s. This movement built upon the pornochanchada genre—popular during the closing years of Brazil’s dictatorship—by infusing it with a more liberated perspective that rejected its inherent sexism. “This was something more,” Duarte elaborated. “These films gave a voice to women, and even though they are not widely recognized, they played a crucial role in shaping Brazilian cinema.” She emphasized her ongoing mission to continue showcasing the work of marginalized Brazilian directors.
Created during a time when Brazil’s dictatorship was waning, these films confronted societal repression through sensuality, transforming it into an act of resistance. Duarte likens their work to Brazil’s response to early Pedro Almodóvar, blending the freedom, humor, and emotional intensity of Spain’s Movida Madrileña with Brazil’s urban and political narratives. Unfortunately, the movement was short-lived, as local exhibitors began favoring imported films and commercial pornography. The dismantling of the state distributor Embrafilme in 1990 nearly silenced a generation of filmmakers, leading to a decline in national production.
The Cinema of Desire project builds upon the momentum generated by Onda Nova, a queer, erotic comedy that challenges prejudice against female football players during Brazil’s dictatorship. This film’s 4K restoration premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in 2024 and has since traveled to various festivals across Europe and Latin America. It hit Brazilian theaters in March and recently secured a distribution deal in the U.S. with Brooklyn-based Muscle Distribution. Elizabeth Purchell, founder of Muscle, commented, “Onda Nova is precisely the type of film we love: accessible and fun, yet wickedly subversive and genuinely daring for its time. We’re excited to partner with Spamflix to introduce it to North American audiences for the first time.”
Duarte and her partner, Markus Duffner, are planning to premiere the Cinema of Desire films in Brazil next year, coinciding with festivals and cinematheques to honor the 20th anniversary of José Antonio Garcia’s passing and what would have been his 70th birthday. For Spamflix, traditionally known for its focus on cult and avant-garde cinema, the Cinema of Desire marks a pivotal shift into the realm of film heritage and rights management. “For us, it’s all interconnected,” Duarte explained. “Through our efforts, we are now safeguarding film heritage and bringing visibility to unique works that deserve to be rediscovered.”
The Magic Eye of Love is one of nine films featured in the MIFC’s Re>Birth program, scheduled for presentation on October 19. The MIFC runs concurrently with the Lumiere Film Festival in Lyon, taking place from October 14 to October 19.
