Zezé Motta

Maria José Motta de Oliveira OMC (Campos dos Goytacazes, June 27, 1944), better known as Zezé Motta, is a Brazilian actress and singer, considered one of the greatest artists in the country, an exponent of Afro-Brazilian culture. Zezé has already won numerous awards, including a Candango Trophy at the Brasília Festival, and an Air France Award, in addition to receiving nominations for three Grande Otelo awards and a Guarani Award. In 2019, she received an Honorary Grand Othello.

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Gonzaga: From Father to Son (2012)

Luiz Gonzaga decides to change his destiny and leaves his childhood home for the big city to overcome a romance. When he arrives, he meets a woman he falls in love with, the Odaleia (Nanda Costa). After the birth of his son and his wife's health complications, he ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Breno Silveira
CAST:  Adélio Lima  •  Júlio Andrade  •  Chambinho do Acordeon  •  Land Vieira

Luiz Gonzaga decides to change his destiny and leaves his childhood home for the big city to overcome a romance. When he arrives, he meets a woman he falls in love with, the Odaleia (Nanda Costa). After the birth of his son and his wife's health complications, he ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Breno Silveira
CAST:  Adélio Lima  •  Júlio Andrade  •  Chambinho do Acordeon  •  Land Vieira

Bróder (2010)

Three childhood friends plan meeting for a day in order to reassert their friendships and fight for their differences. One of them is involved with crime, one is a famous football player and the other struggles to maintain a middle-class lifestyle.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeferson De
CAST:  Caio Blat  •  Jonathan Haagensen  •  Sílvio Guindane  •  Aílton Graça

Three childhood friends plan meeting for a day in order to reassert their friendships and fight for their differences. One of them is involved with crime, one is a famous football player and the other struggles to maintain a middle-class lifestyle.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeferson De
CAST:  Caio Blat  •  Jonathan Haagensen  •  Sílvio Guindane  •  Aílton Graça

Angels of the Night (1987)

Many exotic characters meet in São Paulo night, looking for love and adventure: Malu, a model; Mauro, the drag queen; Teddy, the hustler; Guto, the gay reporter; and Marta, an actress.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wilson Barros
CAST:  Marília Pêra  •  Chiquinho Brandão  •  Marco Nanini  •  Aldo Bueno

Many exotic characters meet in São Paulo night, looking for love and adventure: Malu, a model; Mauro, the drag queen; Teddy, the hustler; Guto, the gay reporter; and Marta, an actress.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wilson Barros
CAST:  Marília Pêra  •  Chiquinho Brandão  •  Marco Nanini  •  Aldo Bueno

Better Days Ahead (1989)

Earning her living by dubbing American TV Series, a woman dreams of becoming an international Hollywood star.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlos Diegues
CAST:  Marília Pêra  •  Paulo José  •  Rita Lee  •  Zezé Motta

Earning her living by dubbing American TV Series, a woman dreams of becoming an international Hollywood star.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlos Diegues
CAST:  Marília Pêra  •  Paulo José  •  Rita Lee  •  Zezé Motta

Prisoner of Rio (1988)

The story of the great train robber Ronald Biggs.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lech Majewski
CAST:  Steven Berkoff  •  Paul Freeman  •  Peter Firth  •  Florinda Bolkan

The story of the great train robber Ronald Biggs.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lech Majewski
CAST:  Steven Berkoff  •  Paul Freeman  •  Peter Firth  •  Florinda Bolkan

Napomuceno's Will (1997)

Nopumoceno, the most successful businessman in the Cabo Verde archipelogo, is an ambitious, clever opportunist, known during his lifetime as "eternity single". However, he is then discovered by his illegitimate daughter to have gotten his fortune and his women in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francisco Manso
CAST:  Nelson Xavier  •  Maria Ceiça  •  Chico Diaz  •  Zezé Motta

Nopumoceno, the most successful businessman in the Cabo Verde archipelogo, is an ambitious, clever opportunist, known during his lifetime as "eternity single". However, he is then discovered by his illegitimate daughter to have gotten his fortune and his women in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francisco Manso
CAST:  Nelson Xavier  •  Maria Ceiça  •  Chico Diaz  •  Zezé Motta

Happy Desert (2007)

Jéssica is a teenager from Brazilian Northeast. After being abused by her stepfather, she runs away to Recife, where starts to work with sexual tourism. Then, she meets Mark, a German tourist, and falls in love with him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paulo Caldas
CAST:  Nash Laila  •  Hermila Guedes  •  Peter Ketnath  •  Marília Mendes

Jéssica is a teenager from Brazilian Northeast. After being abused by her stepfather, she runs away to Recife, where starts to work with sexual tourism. Then, she meets Mark, a German tourist, and falls in love with him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paulo Caldas
CAST:  Nash Laila  •  Hermila Guedes  •  Peter Ketnath  •  Marília Mendes

Chronically Unfeasible (2000)

Filmed over a five-year period, Chronically Unfeasible dissects Brazilian problems, using six people who meet in a restaurant in São Paulo as models to illustrate political, sociological and economic disparities between Brazil's upper and lower classes.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sérgio Bianchi
CAST:  Dan Stulbach  •  Umberto Magnani  •  Maria Alice Vergueiro  •  Dira Paes

Filmed over a five-year period, Chronically Unfeasible dissects Brazilian problems, using six people who meet in a restaurant in São Paulo as models to illustrate political, sociological and economic disparities between Brazil's upper and lower classes.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sérgio Bianchi
CAST:  Dan Stulbach  •  Umberto Magnani  •  Maria Alice Vergueiro  •  Dira Paes

Quilombo (1984)

Quilombo dos Palmares was a real-life democratic society, created in Brazil in the 17th century. This incredibly elaborate (and surprisingly little-known) film traces the origins of Quilombo, which began as a community of freed slaves. The colony becomes a safe ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlos Diegues
CAST:  Tony Tornado  •  Antônio Pompêo  •  Zezé Motta  •  Maurício do Valle

Quilombo dos Palmares was a real-life democratic society, created in Brazil in the 17th century. This incredibly elaborate (and surprisingly little-known) film traces the origins of Quilombo, which began as a community of freed slaves. The colony becomes a safe ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlos Diegues
CAST:  Tony Tornado  •  Antônio Pompêo  •  Zezé Motta  •  Maurício do Valle

Tieta of Agreste (1996)

Just when her family starts believing that she is dead, and that they can expect a rich heritage, Tieta returns from São Paulo to her native village in Bahia, which she had been forced to leave long ago because of some involvement with a goat herd. Believed to be ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlos Diegues
CAST:  Sônia Braga  •  Marília Pêra  •  Chico Anysio  •  Cláudia Abreu

Just when her family starts believing that she is dead, and that they can expect a rich heritage, Tieta returns from São Paulo to her native village in Bahia, which she had been forced to leave long ago because of some involvement with a goat herd. Believed to be ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlos Diegues
CAST:  Sônia Braga  •  Marília Pêra  •  Chico Anysio  •  Cláudia Abreu

Viva Sapato! (2003)

A light-hearted and high-spirited story, full of spice, sensuality and romance, Viva Zapato tells the tale of Dolores, a beautiful Cuban dancer who decides to leave her failing marriage and open a restaurant by the beach with her aunt from Brazil. When her aunt ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luiz Carlos Lacerda
CAST:  Marcello Antony  •  Paula Burlamaqui  •  Louise Cardoso  •  Vladimir Cruz

A light-hearted and high-spirited story, full of spice, sensuality and romance, Viva Zapato tells the tale of Dolores, a beautiful Cuban dancer who decides to leave her failing marriage and open a restaurant by the beach with her aunt from Brazil. When her aunt ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luiz Carlos Lacerda
CAST:  Marcello Antony  •  Paula Burlamaqui  •  Louise Cardoso  •  Vladimir Cruz

Xica da Silva (1976)

The romanced story of Xica da Silva, a slave that used her "feminine atributes" in order to get power.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlos Diegues
CAST:  Zezé Motta  •  Walmor Chagas  •  Altair Lima  •  Elke Maravilha

The romanced story of Xica da Silva, a slave that used her "feminine atributes" in order to get power.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlos Diegues
CAST:  Zezé Motta  •  Walmor Chagas  •  Altair Lima  •  Elke Maravilha

Orfeu (1999)

Orfeu is a popular composer from a samba school. He lives in the favela and falls madly in love when he meets Euridice, a newcomer to the neighborhood. But the local drug boss Lucinho stands between them and will drastically change both their lives.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlos Diegues
CAST:  Toni Garrido  •  Patrícia França  •  Murilo Benício  •  Zezé Motta

Orfeu is a popular composer from a samba school. He lives in the favela and falls madly in love when he meets Euridice, a newcomer to the neighborhood. But the local drug boss Lucinho stands between them and will drastically change both their lives.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlos Diegues
CAST:  Toni Garrido  •  Patrícia França  •  Murilo Benício  •  Zezé Motta

Jubiabá (1987)

Jubiabá is a French-Brazilian film based on the homonymous novel by Jorge Amado. The film tells the story of the interracial love between the daughter of a rich Commander and Antonio Balduíno, a rascal, fighter and famous lover from Salvador.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nelson Pereira dos Santos
CAST:  Grande Otelo  •  Charles Baiano  •  Julien Guiomar  •  Françoise Goussard

Jubiabá is a French-Brazilian film based on the homonymous novel by Jorge Amado. The film tells the story of the interracial love between the daughter of a rich Commander and Antonio Balduíno, a rascal, fighter and famous lover from Salvador.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nelson Pereira dos Santos
CAST:  Grande Otelo  •  Charles Baiano  •  Julien Guiomar  •  Françoise Goussard

Cora Coralina: Todas as Vidas (2017)

All the lives of Cora Coralina in a poetic narrative in the voices, feelings and interpretations of six generations of great Brazilian actresses. A polyphony of the voices that inhabited Cora, revealed in prose, verse and images with its immense literary talent and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Renato Barbieri
CAST:  Maju Souza  •  Walderez de Barros  •  Tereza Seiblitz  •  Camila Márdila

All the lives of Cora Coralina in a poetic narrative in the voices, feelings and interpretations of six generations of great Brazilian actresses. A polyphony of the voices that inhabited Cora, revealed in prose, verse and images with its immense literary talent and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Renato Barbieri
CAST:  Maju Souza  •  Walderez de Barros  •  Tereza Seiblitz  •  Camila Márdila

Pitanga (2016)

This documentary investigates the aesthetic, political and existential trajectory of emblematic Black Brazilian actor Antônio Pitanga. He career spans over five decades, and he has worked with iconic Brazilian filmmakers Glauber Rocha, Cacá Diegues and Walter Lima ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Camila Pitanga  •  Beto Brant
CAST:  Antônio Pitanga  •  Camila Pitanga  •  Rocco Pitanga  •  Gilberto Gil

This documentary investigates the aesthetic, political and existential trajectory of emblematic Black Brazilian actor Antônio Pitanga. He career spans over five decades, and he has worked with iconic Brazilian filmmakers Glauber Rocha, Cacá Diegues and Walter Lima ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Camila Pitanga  •  Beto Brant
CAST:  Antônio Pitanga  •  Camila Pitanga  •  Rocco Pitanga  •  Gilberto Gil

Irmã Dulce (2014)

Biographical film of Sister Dulce, who, in life, was called the “Good Angel of Bahia”, also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and canonized by the Catholic Church. Contemplating from the 1940s to the 1980s, the film shows how the Catholic nun faced an incurable ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Vicente Amorim
CAST:  Bianca Comparato  •  Regina Braga  •  Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos  •  Glória Pires

Biographical film of Sister Dulce, who, in life, was called the “Good Angel of Bahia”, also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and canonized by the Catholic Church. Contemplating from the 1940s to the 1980s, the film shows how the Catholic nun faced an incurable ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Vicente Amorim
CAST:  Bianca Comparato  •  Regina Braga  •  Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos  •  Glória Pires

Xuxa and the Mystery of the Little Ugly Princess (2009)

Based on the book O Fantástico Mistério de Feiurinha, the story combines real world and fantasy, dream and determination, with a surprising end, even for a fairy tale. The movie shows the fight of the fairy tale characters, now adults, who come together to recover ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tizuka Yamasaki
CAST:  Xuxa  •  Sasha Meneghel  •  Luciano Szafir  •  Samantha Schmütz

Based on the book O Fantástico Mistério de Feiurinha, the story combines real world and fantasy, dream and determination, with a surprising end, even for a fairy tale. The movie shows the fight of the fairy tale characters, now adults, who come together to recover ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tizuka Yamasaki
CAST:  Xuxa  •  Sasha Meneghel  •  Luciano Szafir  •  Samantha Schmütz

Em Quadro: A História de 4 Negros nas Telas (2009)

A documentary that tells the history of 4 famous actors in Brazil.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luiz Antonio Pilar
CAST:  Zezé Motta  •  Milton Gonçalves  •  Léa Garcia  •  Ruth de Souza

A documentary that tells the history of 4 famous actors in Brazil.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luiz Antonio Pilar
CAST:  Zezé Motta  •  Milton Gonçalves  •  Léa Garcia  •  Ruth de Souza

Xuxa and The Treasure of the Lost City (2004)

Deep in the Amazon rain forest, there is a lost subterranean city. The place was built by Vikings who crossed the Atlantic Ocean and ventured up the Amazon River, and shelters a mysterious treasure. In order to find the secret location, Bárbara and the children ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Moacyr Góes
CAST:  Xuxa  •  Marcos Pasquim  •  Sergio Malheiros  •  Bruna Marquezine

Deep in the Amazon rain forest, there is a lost subterranean city. The place was built by Vikings who crossed the Atlantic Ocean and ventured up the Amazon River, and shelters a mysterious treasure. In order to find the secret location, Bárbara and the children ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Moacyr Góes
CAST:  Xuxa  •  Marcos Pasquim  •  Sergio Malheiros  •  Bruna Marquezine
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