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Elis & Tom: It Had to be You

Name: Elis & Tom: It Had to be You
Director: Jom Tob Azulay, Roberto de Oliveira
Released: 2023
Duration: 101 min

Representation Score

6.5/10

Good

2023

Director

Jom Tob Azulay, Roberto de Oliveira

Runtime

101 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The documentary succeeds as a restorative archival project that disrupts Western-centric musical histories. By centering Brazilian excellence and the creative synergy between Elis Regina and Tom Jobim, it challenges traditional hierarchies of geography and gender. While the film provides a powerful assertion of non-Western cultural identity, it remains rooted in the social contexts of the 1970s, resulting in a neutral stance regarding explicit LGBTQ+ narratives. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its elevation of female intellectual leadership and its celebration of a specific, soulful cultural moment.

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Category Breakdown

Does Elis & Tom: It Had to be You have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on the professional and artistic bond between the two leads. It explores emotional intimacy through music but does not explicitly center on LGBTQ+ identities.

How does Elis & Tom: It Had to be You portray gender?

Good

Elis Regina is placed at the center of the creative process as a driving force. The film elevates female artistic command and challenges male-dominated musical hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Elis & Tom: It Had to be You?

Good

The documentary celebrates Brazilian cultural identity and non-Western excellence. It highlights a diverse musical ensemble and the sophisticated layers of Brazilian music.

How does Elis & Tom: It Had to be You represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film critiques Western pop hegemony by centering Brazilian traditions. It emphasizes regional identity and artistic autonomy outside the American or European mainstream.

Does Elis & Tom: It Had to be You include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of visible or invisible disabilities driving the narrative within the recording sessions.

Present on Screen

Elevates female artistic leadership by centering Elis Regina as a technical and emotional leader.
Challenges Western-centric musical hegemony by prioritizing Brazilian cultural identity and traditions.
Provides a sophisticated celebration of non-Western cultural excellence and regional autonomy.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit focus on LGBTQ+ identities or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth narratives.
Does not feature prominent depictions of disability within the narrative structure.

Official Synopsis

Elis & Tom is considered one of the most important albums in the history of Brazilian music. Recorded in Los Angeles, in 1974, it was all captured by a team of filmmakers led by director Roberto de Oliveira, who arranged for the duo to meet. The original footage was kept for 45 years until restored and remastered in 2018. The film is also an exciting reunion of the director with the artists and the material he filmed nearly five decades ago.

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