Iremar works at the Vaquejadas, a traditional rodeo in northeastern Brazil, where two men on horseback try to bring down a bull by grabbing its tail. It's dusty and exhausting work, but Iremar is a born “vaqueiro” who feeds, prepares, and cares for the bulls. His home is the truck he uses to transport the animals from show to show, which he shares with his colleagues Galega, an erotic dancer, truck driver, and mother of her spirited and cheeky daughter Cacà, and Zé, his rotund compadre in the bull pen. Together they form a makeshift but close-knit family. Mascaro stages NEON BULL (original title: BOI NEON) as a sensual portrait of a society in transition. Diego García's camera captures the dusty landscapes and the physicality of the characters in long, calm shots. Particularly noteworthy is the portrayal of gender roles: Galega, played by Maeve Jinkings, is not only a dancer, but also a mechanic and mother. Iremar, played by Juliano Cazarré, shows a tender side when he selects fabrics and sketches designs. The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 2015, where it won the Special Jury Prize in the Orizzonti section. NEON BULL received further awards at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Festival do Rio, among others. Critics praised the poetic imagery and the subtle exploration of themes such as masculinity, sexuality, and social advancement.

Keywords

• Animaux
• erotic
• latin america
• relationship

Actors

• Vinicius de Oliveira
• Samya de Lavor
• Maeve Jinkings
• Carlos Pessoa
• Juliano Cazarré
• Josinaldo Alves
• Aline Santana

Director

• Gabriel Mascaro