ECNETNews Reporting
SÃO PAULO, SP
Protests against the Oscar and calls for the imprisonment of former President Jair Bolsonaro dominated the festivities of the Espetacular Charanga do França in downtown São Paulo on Monday, March 3.
By 9 AM, revelers were gathering on Barão de Tatuí Street in the Santa Cecília neighborhood for the pre-party of the bloco, quickly filling the area. This year’s carnival procession adjusted its route to avoid a previously problematic curve that had caused injuries in past celebrations.
Instead of turning onto Barão de Tatuí from Imaculada Conceição Street, the gathering went directly to Barão, aiming to enhance safety and comfort for participants.
The band kicked off the celebrations with iconic tracks, including “Azul,” famously sung by Gal Costa, and “Retalhos de Cetim” by Benito di Paula. Whenever the band took a break, the crowd eagerly chimed in with their own favorite songs.
Protest chants demanding Bolsonaro’s arrest were a resounding feature of the event. The former president is facing accusations of involvement in the January 8, 2023, coup attempt. Shouts of “Put Bolsonaro in Jail” and “Ineligible” echoed throughout the crowd.
Film aficionados also voiced their displeasure regarding the Oscar-winning film “Anora” by Sean Baker, which received five awards during the ceremony on Sunday. The film’s star, Mikey Madison, won the Best Actress award, creating a buzz among supporters who felt Brazilian Fernanda Torres, nominated for “Ainda Estou Aqui,” deserved the accolade. Some attendees wore costumes emblazoned with “totally robbed” in reference to the controversy.
However, the celebrations were not solely defined by dissatisfaction; the community cheered for Walter Salles’ film winning Best Foreign Film, especially given that the French entry “Emilia Pérez” did not take home the prize.
After the Oscars concluded just past midnight in Brazil, friends Fernanda Yumi, 34, and Clara Garcia, 40, transitioned directly from the after-party to the bloco festivities. “It’s too much happiness to sleep,” Clara remarked.
Despite a shortened night of sleep, many attendees expressed unprecedented joy. “Just imagine, our country on top of the world. It’s a dream,” shared reveler Bruno Gouveia, 45. The heat was another factor, with temperatures hitting 30°C by 10 AM. Local residents in Santa Cecília helped cool the crowd by spraying water from their apartment windows, prompting cheers akin to those seen at a sports match.
The festive atmosphere at Charanga do França was occasionally interrupted by crowds and the “heavy” coolers—as street vendors refer to their ice-filled boxes—navigating through the throngs of attendees. Some found themselves unintentionally trampled in the hustle.
Nevertheless, many praised the ice-cold beer available from vendors, particularly after recent complaints regarding beverage temperatures during carnival celebrations across São Paulo.
Around 2 PM, the bloco concluded its vibrant journey. As it turned onto Frederico Abranches Street for the final stretch, the classic carnival anthem “Eva” was played, while the revelers jubilantly danced their way to the Largo da Santa Cecília, marking the successful conclusion of the 12th edition of the Espetacular Charanga do França.
