Possessing Archival Images: Ghosts, Songs and Films in Cartola – música para os olhos (2007)

Cartola – música para os olhos (Cartola – Music for the Eyes, 2007) is a music documentary by Lírio Ferreira and Hilton Lacerda dedicated to Cartola, one of the most important samba singers and composers of the twentieth century. Cartola was born Angenor de Oliveira in 1908 Rio de Janeiro, the grandson of a senator’s cook in the brand-new Brazilian Republic. However, following the death of his grandfather and the decline of their economic situation, the family moved from the middle-class neighbourhoods of Catete and Laranjeiras to the favela of Mangueira. In 1928, Angenor, who had been interested in carnival