Synopsis

A colorful and animated love letter to the world-famous bossa nova music movement.

Screenings

When music journalist Jeff Harris reads up on the bossa nova genre, he discovers the pianist Francisco Tenório Júnior. He was one of Brazil's leading jazz musicians in the 70s and disappeared without a trace in Argentina on tour. Seduced by Tenório's talent and tragic fate, Jeff becomes obsessed with solving the mystery.

«They Shot the Piano Player» captures a fleeting time of creative freedom in Latin American history, just before the continent was engulfed by totalitarian regimes. Exuberant animation personifies the lively music and is a brilliant narrative move to visualize how Brazil's greatest jazz pianist became a victim of political violence.

About the director:
Fernando Trueba is a Spanish director, screenwriter, producer and editor. Among other things, he has directed the film «Belle Epoque» (1992), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Javier Mariscal is a Spanish artist, designer and director. He is also a recognized cartoonist, for the series «Señor Caballito» and «Los Garririsis».

The duo collaborated for the first time in 2010 with the Oscar-nominated and Goya-winning «Chico & Rita».

Gallery