INTERVIEW WITH BRUNO BARRETO (CONT'D)
What's the difference between BOSSA NOVA and your previous films?
Because it's a comedy, I tried to bring back Dona Flor's atmosphere, as well as the fresh vigor of Tati, a Garota, my directorial debut, at 17. I wanted to discard everything I know, not letting myself be constrained by any concept or preconceptions. I wanted to make a funny film, to entertain audiences. BOSSA NOVA is a character ensemble, and being a comedy, everything depends on its timing. So I kept my direction low-key and transparent. I didn't want anything to stand in front of the characters or interfere in the performance or the timing of the cast and the action. I wanted audiences to amuse themselves watching the film, as much as we amused ourselves making it.

BOSSA NOVA has two main characters - the English teacher Mary Ann (Amy Irving) and the lawyer Pedro Paulo (Antonio Fagundes) - as well as an ensemble cast of supporting characters. How did you stitch so many stories together?
The film tells the story of nine characters that break up or hook up. That is the case with the main characters - Mary Ann and Pedro Paulo - but the situation extends itself to the remaining characters. The English teacher is the catalyst for all these stories and also their point of intersection. Former flight attendant, Mary Ann is an American widow living in Arpoador Beach ever since her husband died, two years before, a vibrant woman who had not gotten involved with anyone after his death, that is until she meets Pedro Paulo.

Débora Bloch plays Tânia, Pedro Paulo's ex-wife. She leaves him for a Tai-Chi-Chuan teacher, then has second thoughts about it, but when she finally decides to go back to her husband, Pedro Paulo's already involved with Mary Ann. Pedro Paulo's brother Roberto (Pedro Cardoso) is in love with the law firm's intern, Sharon (Giovana Antonelli's), who seems to be more interested in soccer player Acácio (Alexandre Borges). There's also Nadine (Drica Moraes), who's dating an American over the Internet. All these stories intersect in very funny situations.