THEY SHOT THE PIANO PLAYER Documentary

THEY SHOT THE PIANO PLAYER

Animator Javier Mariscal and director Fernando Trueba (BELLE EPOQUE) reunite after CHICO & RITA (AFI FEST 2010) for this animated, Bossa Nova-inflected documentary about virtuoso Brazilian pianist Francisco Tenório Júnior, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances during the military dictatorship of Argentina in 1976. Narrated by Jeff Goldblum, the film traces a New York music journalist’s quest to uncover the truth behind the disappearance and mirrors Trueba’s own 15-year investigation into the matter. It features interviews with the crème da le crème of Brazilian music, including João Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Vinicius de Moraes and Paulo Moura, and vivid, evocative drawings by Mariscal that transport viewers into a magical moment in Latin American history. –Javier Chavez

Javier Mariscal (Valencia, 1950) is an artist who develops his work in all kinds of media and disciplines. He gained recognition for his cartoons of “Señor Caballito” and “Los Garririsis.” His recent projects include a retrospective exhibition in Seoul and the graphic image for the La Mercè festivities in Barcelona.

Fernando Trueba (Madrid, 1955) made his debut in 1980 with ÓPERA PRIMA, which garnered awards at the Venice and Chicago Film Festivals. CHICO & RITA (2010), his first animated film in collaboration with Javier Mariscal, was the first Spanish film nominated for the Oscar® for Best Animated Film.

Details

Country: Spain, France, Netherlands

Year: 2023

Directors: Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal

Screenwriter: Fernando Trueba

Producers: Cristina Huete, Serge Laloand, Sophie Cabon, Bruno Felix, Janneke Van Der Kerkhof, Femke Wolling, Humberto Santana

Executive Producers: Nano Arrieta, Ulrik Frémont, Fabien Westerhof, Juan Carlos Concha

Editor: Arnau Quiles Pascuai

Cast/Featuring: Jeff Goldblum, Tony Ramos, Abel Ayala, Roberta Wallach, Ângela Rabelo, Stephen Hughes, Alejandra Flechner

Running Time (minutes): 104

Languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish

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