Restored Brazilian Classic "Hour of the Star" Wins High Praise from Original Novel Fans for Its Screen Adaptation

The year 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil. The 28th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) has specially curated the “Focus Brazil” section. On June 19, the newly restored Brazilian film Hour of the Star was screened at SHO. Letícia Friedrich, the film’s distributor, attended the post-screening event and shared behind-the-scenes stories of the re-release with the audience.

Hour of the Star is the feature debut of legendary Brazilian female director Suzana Amaral. Shot on a mere budget of 150,000 US dollars within four weeks, the film earned widespread acclaim upon its release and was included by the Brazilian Film Critics Association on its list of “Top 100 Brazilian Films”. The restoration of the film was completed in 2024, followed by a theatrical re-release across Brazil that reignited massive public interest.

“The film has been around for many years, so its return to the big screen in high-definition restored form is undoubtedly a landmark milestone. We have taken this classic to countless destinations around the world over the years, and now we are finally able to present it to Chinese audiences,” said distributor Letícia Friedrich.

Hour of the Star is adapted from the eponymous novel by Clarice Lispector, one of the most vital Brazilian writers of the 20th century. It depicts the arduous life of Macabéa, a young girl who migrates to Rio de Janeiro from an impoverished rural region. Though filmed back in the 1980s, the figure of this seemingly insignificant, awkward young woman still strikes an emotional chord with modern audiences.

“The rules of urban life are utterly alien to her, yet she never stops trying to understand and fit in,” said Letícia Friedrich. Brought to audiences across time and distance, the film aims to convey this uplifting spirit. “No matter what hardships life throws at you, never stop chasing happiness and hope.”

During the post-screening interaction, audience members volunteered eagerly to share their thoughts on the film. One viewer was deeply moved after watching it: “The story left me heartbroken, especially the final hour of the star. It reminds me of The Little Match Girl: she strikes her matches and conjures all those visions in the flames. That moment of radiance is nothing but an illusion, utterly unreal.”

The screening drew a large crowd of fans of Clarice Lispector, the novel’s original author. The faithful adaptation delighted book lovers immensely. Film enthusiast Ms. Shao commented that the source text’s fragmented structure and intense stream-of-consciousness prose make it extremely challenging to adapt for the screen. Rather than diluting the unique magic of the written word, this film delivers an outstanding translation of literary language into moving visuals. “I am a die-hard fan of this novel. As soon as I learned the restored cut would screen at SIFF, I snapped up a ticket right away—I feel incredibly lucky.”