One of the most celebrated works of Brazilian cinema is set to reach new audiences once again. Carlos Diegues’ landmark drama Bye Bye Brazil (1978)—nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival—will arrive on VOD and leading digital platforms on February 27, 2026, presented in a stunning new 4K restoration by L.C. Barreto Productions.
Widely regarded as a defining film of the post–Cinema Novo era, Bye Bye Brazil blends satire, sensuality, and social commentary into a richly textured portrait of a country in transition. Upon its original release, the film earned enthusiastic praise from critics worldwide, with Roger Ebert calling it “one of the year’s best films,” while The Boston Phoenix described it as “a sarcastic, sexy comedy,” and Playboy Magazine hailed its “exotic, earthy vitality.”
Official Trailer
A Carnival on the Road Through a Changing Nation
Set against the vast and varied landscapes of Brazil, Bye Bye Brazil follows Cico (played by popular singer and actor Fábio Jr.), a young accordionist eager to escape the monotony of his everyday life. When the flamboyant traveling troupe Caravana Rolidei rolls into town, Cico joins the group along with his pregnant wife, embarking on a journey filled with promise, temptation, and uncertainty.
The caravan is led by the enigmatic Gypsy Lord (José Wilker), whose charisma and mystique anchor the troupe as it moves from village to village. Among its most captivating performers is Salomé (Betty Faria), the seductive Queen of the Rhumba, whose magnetic presence soon casts a spell over Cico. As the carnival winds through Brazil’s remote regions, it encounters hustlers, vagabonds, dreamers, and constant adventure—yet beneath the spectacle lies a growing tension.
As television, industrialization, and modernization encroach upon traditional forms of entertainment, the performers struggle to hold audiences captivated by their old-world magic. Cico, meanwhile, finds himself torn between loyalty to his wife, his growing obsession with Salomé, and the uncertain promise of life on the road.
A Defining Film of Brazilian Cinema
Directed by Carlos Diegues, one of the central figures of Brazil’s Cinema Novo movement, Bye Bye Brazil stands as both a celebration and critique of national identity. Written by Diegues alongside Leopoldo Serran, the film reflects on cultural displacement, desire, and the fading romance of itinerant artistry in the face of technological progress.
Critics have long praised the film’s vibrant tone and emotional complexity. The Village Voice called it “exuberant entertainment,” while Time Magazine noted its “glittery magic” and irresistible “bossa nova beat.” Through humor and melancholy, Diegues captures a Brazil that is both mythical and painfully real.
A Cannes Classics–Premiered 4K Restoration
A Cannes Classics–Premiered 4K RestorationThis new release marks the return of Bye Bye Brazil in a meticulously restored 4K version, sourced from the original film negative by L.C. Barreto Productions. The restoration premiered at Cannes Classics, reaffirming the film’s enduring artistic and historical importance.
Produced by Lucy Barreto and Luiz Carlos Barreto, the film features luminous cinematography by Lauro Escorel, whose images evoke the heat, color, and vastness of Brazil’s interior. The restored edition offers enhanced sound options, including 2.0 stereo and 5.1 surround, allowing modern audiences to experience the film with renewed clarity.
A Timeless Journey, Rediscovered
More than four decades after its debut, Bye Bye Brazil remains strikingly relevant—a film about change, longing, and the fragile balance between tradition and progress. Its arrival on digital platforms offers an opportunity for both longtime admirers and first-time viewers to rediscover a cornerstone of world cinema.
Bye Bye Brazil will be available on VOD and major digital outlets beginning February 27, 2026, presented in Portuguese with English subtitles.
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