Francisco Brennand

Costumes - A Compadecida

Francisco Brennand and Ariano Suassuna were lifetime friends. Brennand took part in the first exhibitions of the Movimento Armorial, but always refused to be labeled. With his ironic and amusing way of speaking, he used to say: “I am not Armorial. I am sexual!”. Brennand was a plural artist, producing drawings, paintings, industrial ceramics, tapestries and his famous large ceramic sculptures. He built a special space, the Oficina Brennand, in Recife, a magic and oneiric place, that allows the visitor to immerse in his world, which according to Suassuna was the Ilumiara Brennand.

In 1969, A Compadecida, was filmed and directed by George Jonas, based on Suassuna ́s prized play, Auto da Compadecida. It was the first film made in color in Brazil, with a cast that included actors such as Armando Bógus, Antônio Fagundes, Ary Toledo, Regina Duarte and Zózimo Bulbul.

The costumes were designed by Francisco Brennand and the scenery by Lina Bardi. However, most of the scenes were filmed outdoors, in Brejo da Madre de Deus, in the interior of Pernambuco. Brennand designed the costumes using bright colors and Brazilian elements, such as cashews, mangos and tropical flowers. They were produced by seamstresses and embroiderers from the small town. The costumes presented here were recreated specially to the exhibition by the costume designer Flavia Rossette, based on Brennand’s drawings and images of the film.