The Influence of Cinema in the Formation of Brazil´s Image Abroad

Abstract

Cinema has become an effective tool in the dissemination of destinations over time, enabling different imaginary and national identity conceptions. From this perspective, the present paper aims to analyze how Brazil´s image has been approached in the national and international cinematographic works according to the perception of foreign viewers. From a mixed approach, a questionnaire was developed in order to assess how the foreign public has seen the country and to verify the relationship between the characteristicsattributed by them and the images portrayed in the movies City of God (2002), Elite Squad (2007), Rio (2011), Fast Five (2011) and Rio 2 (2014). The results show that the country´s image is stereotyped and that the clichés presented in cinematographic productions are also present in the discourse of the public that participated in the research. The paper emphasizes the need for actions to improve the national image present in the foreign imagination, thus reflecting directly in the promotion and increased flow in the tourist activity.