It's been almost a year since I last wrote about this upcoming project from Spike Lee – a feature documentary titled Go Brazil, Go!, which will focus on the rise of that country (on the move, particularly politically and economically) on the international scene, as one of the BRIC countries, an acronym that refers to Brazil, Russia, India and China, all gradually shifting global economic power away from the so-called long-dominating developed G7 economies. It is estimated that BRIC economies will overtake G7 economies by 2027, as the balance of power gradually shifts.

From 2011 to 2012, in terms of GDP (gross domestic product), Brazil overtook both France and the UK, making it the world's 6th largest economy.

To be included in the documentary, which we first told you about in March 2012, are interviews Spike will have with former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and artists like Gilberto Gil, Jorge Ben Jor, Chico Buarque and soccer icon Pele.

Spike was also to visit the headquarters of the Afro-Reggae NGO known for offering opportunities through music to favela kids, where he planned to hold interviews as well; also on his list were Brazilian actors, as well as community leaders in São Paulo & Rio de Janeiro, and much more.

It was said that his plan was to have the documentary ready in time for the 2014 World Cup, which will be hosted by Brazil, in May of that year. So, we've got another year to go.

And as I noted then… some black Brazilian bloggers weren't too thrilled with the idea of the project, based on what had been revealed at the time; specifically, worries that the film will be more of a video travel brochure for the country, and won't really focus on the country's eep social and racial inequities where Afro Brazilians are concerned; concerns that are rarely addressed. 

Maybe today's news might ease the minds of those folks. As of our last post, last May, Spike said that he planned to go back to Brazil four or five times more, to continue gathering footage, through this year.

And he was just there (he may still be there); according to his Twitter page, he was there yesterday. It's Carnaval season, and he's apparently been interviewing, meeting, speaking, and shooting since last week Friday, the 8th.

Of note, according to reports on Brazilian news outlet Atarde (translated by the Black Women of Brazil blog), Spike has been vocal with criticism of the lack of black Brazilians in positions of power in the country, and his return to Brazil this time around is, in part, to address the racial discrimination question. So, while the film will most certainly have as a central focus, the country's advances on the international scene, it will also, as Atarde states, "delve deep into the contradictions of a country that has as a principal feature, the diversity of races."

And, by the way, Atarde also states that the film will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014, in May, just in time for the start of the World Cup, on June 12, 2014.

And assuming it does debut at Cannes, the film is expected to be released in theaters in Brazil first, which makes sense.

I haven't read much commentary from Spike on the project; unless I just missed one of his Twitter explosions; I'm sure he's been well aware of the chatter that's been happening around the film – especially by the Afro Brazilian community, who I'm sure will be watching the film with an unwavering critical eye when it's released next year.

The Brazilian government approached him to make the film by the way; I wonder what their selection process was… or maybe he was their guy from the get-go. 

I came across these still photos (above and below) from the film shoot; something to tie you over until we get to see some footage. The images are courtesy of photographer Vincent Rosenblatt. There are plenty more where these came from HERE.