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Deep Dive: Dzi Croquettes (2009)

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Dzi Croquettes
Dzi Croquettes is a 2009 Brazilian documentary directed by Tatiana Issa and Raphael Alvarez, focusing on the influential dance and theater group of the same name. The film captures the group's efforts to challenge the military dictatorship in Brazil during the 1970s through a unique blend of humor and performance art. It features interviews and archival footage that reveal the group's origins, their creative innovations, and the impact they had on the gay movement, despite facing censorship and bans from the regime. The documentary also addresses the group's decline in their later years, marked by personal conflicts, the AIDS crisis, and tragic events. Through candid conversations with former members and contemporary artists, the film presents a comprehensive view of the Dzi Croquettes, emphasizing their role in redefining gender norms and their lasting influence on Brazilian culture.

Why Watch

  • •See Liza Minnelli's connection to the Dzi Croquettes.
  • •Meet the artists who revolutionized Brazilian theater.
  • •Find out how humor challenged a dictatorship.

Did You Know

•The film premiered in the US at MoMA in New York.
•Dzi Croquettes won 11 awards at various film festivals in 2009 and 2010.
•Liza Minnelli became a godmother figure to the Dzi Croquettes.
•The group was active during Brazil's military dictatorship in the 1970s.

Perfect For

Brazilian theater enthusiastsLGBTQ+ history fansDocumentary lovers