Black Orpheus

Eurydice arrives in Rio on a trolley driven by Orfeu, navigating the busy city and being introduced to her cousin Serafina. She is seeking refuge from a man she fears wants to kill her, indicating her troubled past and need for safety. Orfeu shows her around the city, and she begins to settle into her new environment.

Orfeu, engaged to Mira, discusses their upcoming marriage but seems disinterested and distracted. They visit a courthouse to get a marriage license, where a joke about Mira’s name annoys Eurydice and causes some tension. Mira’s insistence on a ring reveals her desire for the marriage, though Orfeu prefers to spend money on Carnival preparations.

Eurydice, fleeing from a threatening man she believes wants to kill her, stays temporarily with Serafina next door. Orfeu discovers her presence and ensures her safety by chasing away the man dressed as Death. Their bond deepens as Eurydice and Orfeu fall in love amidst their dangerous circumstances.

Orfeu offers Eurydice refuge by letting her stay at his place, where they share a romantic night. Eurydice invites Orfeu to her bed, and they make love, cementing their growing love story despite external threats. Their relationship blossoms under the shadow of danger.

Orfeu, Mira, and Serafina participate in a samba school during Carnival, showcasing joyful festivities. Serafina disguises Eurydice as the Queen of the Night, aiming to spend more time with Chico. During the parade, Orfeu dances with Eurydice instead of Mira, highlighting their romantic connection.

Mira notices Eurydice among the parade spectators and tears off her veil, exposing her disguise. This revelation forces Eurydice to run for her life, chased by Mira and later by Death. Her attempt to escape leads to a near-tragic series of events, emphasizing the danger she faces.

While fleeing, Eurydice hangs from a power line to escape Death. Orfeu accidentally turns on the power, electrocuting her and causing her death. Death claims her as his own, marking a tragic turn and echoing the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

Distraught over Eurydice’s death, Orfeu searches for her at the Office of Missing Persons, but finds no trace. A janitor guides him down a spiral staircase to a ritual in a reference to the Greek myth, where Orfeu attempts to bring Eurydice back from the dead through spiritual means.

During the ritual, Orfeu sings to call Eurydice’s spirit, which inhabits the body of an old woman. Despite her pleas for him not to look at her, Orfeu turns and sees her, causing her spirit to depart forever. This moment signifies a failed attempt to reunite with her in the afterlife.

Endlessly mourning, Orfeu finds Eurydice’s body at the city morgue and carries her through Rio, heading home. His journey is interrupted when Mira, seeking revenge, hits him with a stone, causing him to fall off a cliff with Eurydice in his arms, resulting in his death.

After Orfeu’s death, two children, Benedito and Zeca, believe that Orfeu’s guitar playing causes the sun to rise every morning. Zeca plays Orfeu’s guitar, and the sun appears, symbolizing hope and the enduring power of his music, even in death.