Carnaval begins!

On the beginning of the weekend madness and fun that is Carnaval, I thought it would be great to put up a link to the trailer for a film that debuted last year called O Samba Que Mora Em Mim (The Samba That Lives Within Me). It's a lovely film about Mangueira, the neighborhood that lends its name to one of Rio's oldest, biggest and most popular samba schools. My family are members of the school, meaning that they dress up, rehearse and perform as members of this school in the annual Carnaval parade/competition. You don't have to live in Mangueira to be a member of the Mangueira school; indeed, many famous celebrities are Mangueira members. But all samba school members respect the heritage of the traditions, people, music and year-long effort to make that one weekend during Carnaval the happiest, the shiniest, the best of the year. This film is the testament to that spirit, regardless of your circumstances. Check it out.