Fernando Meirelles; The Brazilian Blockbuster.(Brief Article)(Interview)

Byline: Mac Margolis

Fernando Meirelles makes a lousy prima-donna. The award-winning Brazilian film director says he got his start "making half-crazy videos" for the alternative festival circuit. In 2002, when he released his drugs-and-thugs picture "City of God," he reckoned he'd be lucky to draw 500,000 spectators. He got 3.5 million, just in Brazil. And in late January, when he heard that the film had been nominated for a slew of Oscars, including best director, he blurted out, "Has the Academy gone mad?" By rights the 48-year-old onetime Sao Paulo publicist ought to be preening. Instead Meirelles still seems half stunned. Last week, from London, where he is at work on the film version of John Le Carre's thriller "The Constant Gardener," Meirelles spoke by phone with NEWSWEEK's Mac Margolis. Excerpts:

MARGOLIS: Did you have any clue that "City of God" was on the shortlist for the Oscars?

MEIRELLES: None. Six months ago, my producers at Miramax told me they had filled out the entry forms for this year's Academy Awards, but I figured I didn't have a chance. I guess Miramax believed in the movie much more than I did. I was back in London, in a meeting in my office, when the phone rang with the news from the Academy. I couldn't believe it. I still can't.

Brazilian critics came down hard on you when "City" was released. Have things changed?

Some critics said the movie glamorized violence, that it was a picture made to please the film establishment. I guess those people probably feel that they were right now. But the film has no stars. It's not a story in three acts about a hero. And it doesn't make violence into a spectacle. I think we struck a nerve. Few films have stirred up as much debate in Brazil as this one did.

You once were quoted as saying that "City of God" was a film made with a certain talent, good will and good intentions. Is that still the way you feel?