Macunaíma e a direção de arte de Anísio Medeiros

Abstract

This research analyzes the film Macunaíma (Joaquim Pedro de Andrade, 1969) through the lens of Anísio Medeiros’s production design, examining how it may complement existing analyses by Ismail Xavier, Randal Johnson, and Heloísa Buarque de Hollanda. Beginning from Medeiros’s established background as a visual artist, costume designer, and theater set designer, the study focuses on his early contributions to cinema, particularly Capitu (Paulo César Saraceni, 1968) and Macunaíma. Through film analysis, archival research, and interviews, it investigates how production design may contribute to creating multiple layers of meaning. The methodology also includes mapping professional networks and constructing a chronology of Medeiros’s work in Brazilian cinema. This research consolidates information about Medeiros’s cinematic oeuvre and fosters dialogue between art direction and other audiovisual fields, at a time when art direction studies are gaining academic prominence in Brazil.