Céu 'Corpocontinente' by Rodrigo Saavedra
Rob Ulitski - 6th Feb 2020
A man searches for a rare drug and a means of escape in Rodrigo Saavedra's post-apocalyptic vision for Brazilian singer Céu.
The raucous dystopia in the opening shots of the video for Corpocontinente is punctuated by intense noise, wild styling and a hostile set of strangers. The hapless hero of the video successfully begs his way into his dealer's house, consumes a mysterious floral drug, and before long has escaped to a different world: he is paddleboarding through a body of water surrounded by jungle - in perhaps the Amazon itself - towards Céu, resplendent at the top of temple steps on the riverbank, with branches sprouting from her shoulders, berries soon appearing under her eyes...
Repeating the phrase saudade throughout the chorus, Céu is referencing a word that only exists in Portuguese - the feeling of longing, wistfulness for something or someone you can't have. Unlike similar words in other languages, this phrase is a noun - one doesn't just feel saudade, one has it.
Cinematic and striking, the ethereal setting of the dreamworld helps elevate this emotion. DoP Diego Robaldo's composition and control of the lighting is breathtaking, and the paddleboard prop is not only a great choice aesthetically, but a unique way to create low angle shadows on the actor's face when the sun sets, almost representing the death of his dream and the escape he was so desperate for.
The plentiful visual effects by Mosh VFX are also a great addition, most evident in the shots of Ceu's face merging with nature, entwining between twisted branches and colourful organic matter growing from her pores.
This is poignant work from a brilliant and ambitious creative team led by Rodrigo Saavedra, topped off with a hypnotic performance from the delightful Céu.
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Rob Ulitski - 6th Feb 2020
Credits
Production/Creative
- Director
- Rodrigo Saavedra
- Producer
- Gisele Castilho
- Production Company
- Landia
- Executive Producer
- Camila Bastos
- Production Manager
- Pryka Almeida
- 1st AD
- Camila Andreoni
Camera
- Director of Photography
- Diego Robaldo
- Focus Puller
- Pimenta
- 2nd AC
- Caio Freitas Oliveira
Lighting/Grip
- Gaffer
- Hugo Nyerges
Art
- Art Director
- Rodrigo Saraiva
Wardrobe
- Wardrobe
- Allan Fernandes
- Make-up
- Lau Neves
Editorial
- Editor
- Nathalia. Kamura
Grading
- Colourist
- Marla Colour Grading
VFX
- VFX
- Mosh Vfx
Agent
- Director's Representation
- F
Rob Ulitski - 6th Feb 2020