Brazilian actor and director Lázaro Ramos has announced his next film project, a road movie titled “Mais Que Amigos” (translated as “More Than Friends”). Ramos, known for his roles in “Madame Satã” and “Lower City,” will reunite with director Sérgio Machado for this new work. The film will explore the close bond between a singer and a poet during a defining period in Brazil’s history.
This project marks Ramos’ return to directing since his 2021 dystopian film “Executive Order,” which gained considerable attention in Brazil and featured British actor Alfie Enoch and Brazilian star Taís Araújo. In addition to directing, Ramos will also star in “Mais Que Amigos.”
Set against the backdrop of the Brazilian Northeast, the story follows two friends navigating a critical moment in their personal and professional lives. Their journey becomes an exploration of political, musical, and existential themes, reflecting the cultural resistance and beauty found in Brazil’s popular culture and poetry. Ramos described the film as an effort to portray a deep and complex view of Brazil, highlighting the intersection of art and life.
Ramos shared his enthusiasm about directing his fourth film and collaborating again with ELO Studios, the production company behind “Executive Order.” He emphasized that “Mais Que Amigos” is intended to engage directly with Brazilian identity and cinema, telling a story rooted in the country’s landscape and cultural fabric.
ELO Studios CEO Sabrina Nudeliman Wagon expressed strong support for the project, highlighting Ramos’ truthful storytelling and the film’s potential to reveal aspects of Brazilian culture unfamiliar to many. She said, “‘Mais Que Amigos’ will portray a Brazil that many are not aware of but that is the cultural foundation of our country.”
Lázaro Ramos’ career spans decades across film, television, and theater. He gained early recognition in the Brazilian film industry with performances in significant titles like Karim Aïnouz’s “Madame Satã” and Héctor Babenco’s “Carandiru.” Ramos has worked closely with his longtime friend and collaborator Wagner Moura, who recently received international acclaim for his Oscar-nominated role in “The Secret Agent.”
Currently in Berlin promoting Allan Deberton’s queer youth drama “Gugu’s World,” Ramos reaffirmed his commitment to creating films that explore intense emotions and the complexities of human relationships. “Mais Que Amigos” aims to depict the unlikely friendship between two contrasting individuals during a transformative era in Brazil, shedding light on historical and cultural changes that helped shape the nation.
The production seeks to blend narrative storytelling with reflective commentary on the role of art in people’s lives, whether as creators or observers. Ramos and Machado intend to go beyond biography to craft a sensitive manifesto about Brazil through the lens of friendship and creativity.
With “Mais Que Amigos,” Lázaro Ramos continues to advance Brazilian cinema by telling stories that resonate with the country’s cultural identity and historical context, supported by his ongoing partnership with ELO Studios.