Born in Paris, France, but naturalized Brazilian, the multi-artist Gilda de Abreu “debuted” 120 years ago. Gilda began her artistic career singing in charity events and opera concerts. In 1920, she performed at the Theatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro in operas such as The Tales of Hoffmann, of Offenbach and The Barber of Seville, by Rossini. It was at this time that she met Vicente Celestino, who would become her husband.
In 1933, he made his musical theater debut with the operetta The Brazilian Song and, after five months, she married Celestino on the stage itself, in a ceremony that had a great impact.
In the early 1940s, with the popularity of radio soap operas on the rise, Gilda began writing for this format.
For the National Radioshe creates works such as Mixed race, Hallelujah, The Gypsy and Little human beingamong others, and writes Clown soul for Rádio Tamoio. Still in the 40s, more precisely in 1945, she began her work as a director in the film The Drunkardwhich becomes a huge box office success and is available for free streaming on Itau Cultural Play.
The film was released in 1946, became a huge box office success and cemented her career as a director. She went on to direct other films, such as Little People Penguin (1948) and Mother’s Heart (1951), which were also well received.
Hernani Heffner, chief curator of the Cinematheque of the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, says that decades after the release of The Drunkardthe screening of the restored version moves the public.
“When you see the film in a big room and everyone starts sobbing, it is an event. In fact, The Drunkard “It left a deep impression on people’s hearts,” says Heffner, who, in a statement to Itaú Cultural, lamented the lack of visibility given to Gilda’s work. “Today the term ‘erasure’ is used, and it is suggestive that very little of Gilda’s creative process in the film has survived.”
In addition to cinema, the artist has written several books, including children’s novels and a biography of Vicente Celestino, The Life of Vincent Celestine.
Gilda de Abreu is remembered as an important figure in the history of cinema and music in Brazil, contributing significantly to the country’s culture with her multifaceted talent, especially as a fundamental figure in the history of Brazilian cinema, being a pioneer who paved the way for women in the film industry.
