Top Ten Brazilians I'd Most like to Lunch With

February 06, 2009

Top Ten Brazilians I'd Most like to Lunch With

If I could blog for a living, I'd figure out how to get in touch with these people, go out to lunch with them, pick their minds, and devote a whole section of the blog to the interviews. But sadly, I can't live off the small ad revenues I get, so for now, it's just a wish list. It's not necessarily in order of intellect or fame, but rather of entertainment value and potential for a good story.

10. Jo Soares - the Brazilian David Letterman, this guy would keep me laughing the whole time.
9. Marilia Gabriela - the Brazilian Katie Couric, she's a smart, powerful woman who would have plenty of insight on Brazil as well as fun stories.
8. Caetano Veloso - one of Brazil's most famous contemporary singers, Caetano was exiled by the military dictatorship and is something of an intellectual as well as an artist. I'd grill him about history.
7. Paulo Antunes - the ESPN Brazil announcer for American football, this guy makes my day with his impeccable American accent and his hilarious outbursts during games. I'd ask him to tell me stories in Portlish.
6. Elza Soares - one of Brazil's most famous samba singers, Elza worked her way up from dirt poor to superstar. She was married to Garrincha, one of Brazil's best soccer players, and has survived a troubled life. I'd just like to hear more about her life.
5. Fernando Gabeira - a Rio politician and a former militant against the dictatorship, by which he was also tortured and exiled, this guy has seen great political change. I'd interview him about politics, naturally.
4. Walter Salles - a wonderful director and producer of Brazilian and foreign films, he has an international perspective but a great love for Latin America, especially Brazil. Plus, he directed one of my favorite movies of all time, The Motorcycle Diaries. I wouldn't know where to begin.
3. Ruy Castro - An amazing author who writes about famous Brazilians and Brazilian culture, I would love to pick this guy's brain. He is the Brazilian culture expert.
2. José Padilha - the director of the documentary "Onibus 174" and the movie "Tropa de Elite," both excellent films, this Brazilian has a clear and realistic vision of Rio, one he wishes to change. He's incredibly brave and basically risked his life making Elite Squad. There's a lot I could learn from him.
1. Roberto Da Matta - an acclaimed Brazilian anthropologist, this man knows Brazil and the US extremely well and has written many works comparing the two and examining Brazil as a nation and culture. He is the professional, academic version of what riogringa.com aspires to be, and he is basically my guru.

Posted at 12:53 AM in The Brazilians | Permalink

Comments

Hmmm... maybe we could write to Programa do Jô and talk about your blog.

Posted by: Rafael | February 06, 2009 at 08:28 AM

you gathered quite a staff there. i'd just change jô soares for elio gaspari, a journalist from folha de são paulo, very opinionated.
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and the idea of getting you to jô soares is not bad at all...

Posted by: daniel | February 06, 2009 at 10:52 AM

This is a fantastic idea. You inspired me to put together my own list:
http://zerotres.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/brazilians-id-like-to-lunch-with/
The summary:
10. Fernando Meirelles
9. Maurício Kubrusly
8. Selton Mello
7. Walter Salles
6. Oscar Niemeyer
5. Vilfredo and Heloísa Schürmann
4. Caetano Veloso
3. Matheus Nachtergaele
2. Siba
1. Ariano Suassuna

Posted by: Gringo in Olinda | February 06, 2009 at 10:54 AM

it's sad i don't know who any of these people are :(

Posted by: mallory elise | February 06, 2009 at 11:03 AM

Wow, thanks for having this blog! You write wonderfully well and it is always nice to learn how other cultures perceive us. I'll be coming back regularly!

P.S.: Should all comments be in English or Portuguese is accepted as well?

Posted by: Edu | February 06, 2009 at 12:11 PM