About
In the historic cities of Minas Gerais, Brazil, bell sounds set the pace of life, announcing time for work, rest, pray, and celebration. With over 40 different bell rings – a product of their Catholic origins and African influences – in the region, the practice has been nominated as Brazilian Intangible Cultural Heritage. This film brings to light the lives of the bell ringers and their young apprentices – men who have devoted themselves to performing this work as a daily commitment – and raises important questions about the nature of language and communication.
The filmmakers travel to 9 cities in the region, one of the last to maintain the bell ringers' tradition, and question its impact on the lifestyle and identity of the people who live there. Going beyond the bell rings, the film looks deeper into the background of the Brazilian people and speaks about the history of their mining work, Afro-Brazilian exploitation, and faith. The Sound of Bells is a poetic representation of religious experience in everyday life.
The film is part of an expanded documentary project, which uses new media to support increased appreciation of cultural heritage, and to strengthen dialogue and understanding among cultures. The project combines new technologies, sound mapping, and community engagement in a transmedia production that includes an online multimedia platform with sound cartography and innovative content, an interactive documentary, audiovisual public interventions on churches’ façades, and an award-winning audio guide app for mobile devices.
Selected Screeenings and Awards
Official Jury Award for Best Documentary, 21st Florianópolis Audiovisual Mercosul, Brasil, 2017
Honorable mention, 2nd Heritales - International Heritage Film Festival, Portugal, 2017
Best Cinematography, 1st Mostra Sesc de Cinema Paulista, Brazil, 2017
Margaret Mead Film Festival, NYC, 2018
Festival Biarritz, Amérique Latine, 2018
Boston Latino Film Festival, Boston, 2018
Finnish Anthropological Society, Film Programme, 2019
Reviews
“Part art piece, part documentary, The Sound of Bells centers on the dying art of bell ringing in Minas Gerais, Brazil and explores the bells’ past and present to a changing way of life. The documentary superbly shows rather than tells viewers about the bells’ history, religious connections, social importance, and artistry.” – Amanda Jo Melchor, Reference & Instruction Librarian, Texas A&M University, Kingsville
Credits
The Sound of Bells (O Som Dos Sinos)
SCREENINGS & AWARDS
Official Jury Award for Best Documentary, 21st Florianópolis Audiovisual Mercosul, Brasil, 2017
Honorable mention, 2nd Heritales - International Heritage Film Festival, Portugal, 2017
Best Cinematography, 1st Mostra Sesc de Cinema Paulista, Brazil, 2017
Official Competition, 27th Biarritz Festival Latin America, France, 2017
1st Festival of Ethnographic Film of Pará, Brazil, 2017
48th Int'l Market Visions du Réel, Switzerland, 2017
32nd Festival Internacional de Cine en Guadalajara, Mexico, 2017
8th International Ethnographic Film Festival of Recife, Brazil, 2017
7th Fluminense Heritage Week Memory On The Movement, Brasil, 2017
9th Visualidades, Brazil, 2018
Margaret Mead Film Festival, NYC, 2018
Boston Latino Film Festival, Boston, 2018
Finnish Anthropological Society, Film Programme, 2019
CREDITS
Production Company
Estúdio CRUA
Directed By
Marcia Mansur, Marina Thomé
Executive Production
Marcia Mansur
Direction Of Photography
Marina Thomé
Script
Luisa Pitanga
Editing
Marina Thomé, Fernando Muñoz
Direct Sound
Renato Cortez
Production Coordinator
Júlia Franceschini
Sound Editing
Vinícius Leal, Daniel Velutini
Mixing
Jesse Marmo
Color Correction And Post Production
Marmo Entretenimento
Color Assistants
Hebert Marmo, Renzo Machado, Anuar Marmo
Editor Assistants
Maurício Lustosa, Beatriz Cavalcanti
Post Production
Maurício Lustosa
Financial Consultant
Wagner Vallim
Spanish Translation
Irma Duran
English Translation
Christina Rostworowski Da Costa
French Translation
Isabel Moraes
Sponsored By
Ministério Da Cultura, Eletrobras E Furnas