Limbo, Brasília, and other short films; Two-Way Street

Cao Guimarães has one of the most distinctive and admired bodies of work in contemporary Brazilian filmmaking. Recording an inventory of distinctive and visually striking moments in daily life, Guimarães creates a poetic vision of the world—whether he’s filming the inhospitable utopia of Brasília, ants carrying away confetti in the wake of Carnival, or soap bubbles navigating the corridors of an empty house. Through his close observations and improvisational spirit, Guimarães and his films expand the ideas and vocabulary of documentary and personal filmmaking. A visual artist as well, his photography and two of his video works are currently on view in the Cruzamentos exhibition. (approx. 70 mins., video)

Cao Guimarães came up with a captivating conceit for Two-Way Street. For the film, which was originally created for the 25th São Paulo Biennial, he had two people who didn’t know each other swap houses for 24 hours. They each recorded their stay with a video camera and were instructed to imagine the home’s owner based on their belongings and environment. The resulting footage is presented in split-screen, creating a dialogue between the two participants and the objects that they surround themselves with. But through the various filming styles that each person employs, the films become as much of a self-portrait as they are a portrait of the “other.” (72 mins., video)