Magnífica 70 (HBO)

About Magnífica 70 (HBO)

The captivating TV series Magnífica 70 is set in São Paulo, Brazil, in the 1970s during the repressive dictatorship era. The show revolves around a man stuck in a life he despises. His life takes an unexpected turn when he starts working in a trashy cinema company called Magnífica, which produces cheap and highly censored erotic movies.

Making / Production

Magnífica 70 is a Brazilian series that premiered on HBO Latin America in 2015. Produced by Conspiração Filmes, the series was created by Claudio Torres, Renato Fagundes, and Leandro Assis. While the series is grounded in historical fact, it is set against the backdrop of the exploitation cinema scene of the 1970s, or "Boca do Lixo," providing a highly imaginative insight into Brazil's cultural history.

Actors

• Marcos Winter as Vicente, an office drone turned movie director. Winter excellently portrays Vicente's transition from an unsatisfied censorship employee to an impassioned filmmaker.
• Simone Spoladore as Dora Dumar, a rebellious actress. Spoladore's performance effectively brings out the depth of a character who uses the male-driven industry to her advantage.
• Adriano Garib as Manolo, the abhorrent yet charismatic producer. Garib's role establishes him as a significant player in the burgeoning film industry of the era.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series mirrors the cultural movement of the 70s in Brazil which used erotic cinema as a tool against the then-dictatorship.
• Magnífica 70 captures the energy of the Boca do Lixo film scene, which led to a wave of innovative movies in Brazil that challenged censorship and societal norms.
• Though it’s often comedic and thrillingly melodramatic, the show also includes plenty of gritty, serious drama.

Awards

Magnifica 70 received several nominations at Brazil's renowned APCA awards. Additionally, it was also nominated for the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series.

Quotes

• "Everything that is suppressed reappears somewhere else." - Manolo.
• "My life is a lot better since I started living it in fantasy." - Dora.
• "We're not producing culture, we're making knock-off porn!" - Vicente.

Music, Soundtrack

• Opening theme song is a catchy retro-rock tune "You Don't Know Me" by Eddy Star Orchestra.
• Soundtrack blends modern and vintage Brazilian music to amplify the essence of the 70s.
• The use of score and diegetic music throughout the series greatly contributes to its atmospheric authenticity.