Documentary 'Othelo, o grande' Revives Actor's Legacy, Contrasting 1926 Racist Critique by Menotti Del Picchia
The documentary 'Othelo, o grande' by Lucas H. Rossi dos Santos delves into the life of Brazilian actor Grande Othelo, utilizing his own testimonies, archival images, and clips of his performances, emphasizing narrative coherence rather than a strict timeline. It revisits a 1926 piece by Menotti Del Picchia in Correio Paulistano, where he praised the talent of 11-year-old Othelo but simultaneously expressed racist sentiments that undermined his potential due to his race. Del Picchia portrayed indigenous populations as nearly vanished and regarded the African-descendant community as impediments to national progress, asserting that Brazil was inherently white. By labeling Othelo as a 'negrinho,' the article suggested his achievements depended on white support. This documentary empowers Othelo to articulate his identity, challenging narratives that perpetuate Black marginalization and promoting a deeper understanding of racism in Brazil.
Key facts
- Documentary 'Othelo, o grande' by Lucas H. Rossi dos Santos focuses on actor Grande Othelo's life through his own testimonies and archival material.
- Menotti Del Picchia wrote an article on October 26, 1926, in Correio Paulistano about meeting an 11-year-old Grande Othelo.
- Del Picchia, born in 1892 in São Paulo, was a poet, novelist, critic, and participant in the 1922 Semana de Arte Moderna.
- Del Picchia's article expressed admiration for Othelo's talent but framed it through racist views, questioning his future due to his Blackness.
- Del Picchia believed Brazil's population was fundamentally white and European-descended, viewing African descendants as a national challenge.
- Grande Othelo, born Sebastião Bernardes de Souza Prata in Uberabinha (now Uberlândia, MG) in 1917, died in Paris in 1993.
- The documentary avoids presenting Othelo as an exceptional 'Black actor' to prevent reinforcing narratives of Black marginality.
- The analysis suggests examining such historical racism is crucial for understanding its persistent nuances in Brazil.
Entities
Artists
- Grande Othelo
- Lucas H. Rossi dos Santos
- Menotti Del Picchia
- Carlos Drumond de Andrade
- Orson Welles
- Werner Herzog
- José de Alencar
- Fabio D'Almeida
- Eliane Pinheiro
- Yoshie S. Barreirinhas
Institutions
- Companhia Negra de Revista
- Correio Paulistano
- Semana de Arte Moderna de São Paulo
- Civilização Brasileira
Locations
- Brazil
- São Paulo
- Rio de Janeiro
- Uberabinha
- Uberlândia
- Minas Gerais
- Paris
- France
- Portugal
- Toscana
- Italy
- Pisa