“Documentary scenes are the musical equivalent of the images Leonardo Da Vinci painted.” Mona Lisa. Orson Welles directed Citizen Kane. The closest comparison in modern television cinematography is the series, not yet surpassed. Elis and Tom traces a remarkable arc from fiction to truth as it follows the creative collision that shaped a golden era of Brazilian music. After screening at multiple international festivals, including the Cannes market and In-Edit in Barcelona, the documentary secured a Brazil-wide cinema release on September 21 and has drawn attention from critics around the world.
The film adds depth to the public image of Brazil’s most idolized singer by presenting intimate, unguarded moments. Elis Regina is shown as a singer who could cut through whispers with a powerful, bold voice. Her life ended tragically in 1982 at 36 amid rumors surrounding substance use; the documentary both explores and unsettles those myths. It also honors Tom Jobim, the architect of bossa nova, a composer who helped the genre become a global beacon. Jobim is remembered as a sovereign master and the influence that placed the name of Rio de Janeiro on the world stage. Elis and Tom brings their faces together on screen.
Archival images show Elis Regina and Tom Jobim recording at the MGM studio in Los Angeles. One of Brazilian music’s most celebrated albums remained in storage for decades, recovered in the period between 1974 and 1979 with a sense of almost mythic timing. Roberto de Oliveira, Regina’s former manager, describes how the meeting of two giants produced music that captivated critics worldwide. The album Elis and Tom is praised as a jewel, a crystal of beauty where every breath and every piano note sits in its exact place. The New York Times praised the work, noting its rare clarity and radiance.
The unreleased footage is rich with expressive, atmospheric moments—pearls of scenes where drink and laughter mingle with the haze of tobacco. Elis moves her arms with the force of a dancer while singing the ballad It Just Needs to Be Like You, a moment that seems almost impossible to imagine when heard from a distance. Elis greets her young son João Marcelo Boscoli and shares casual conversations with the crew, giving viewers a rare sense of life offstage. The film captures candid interactions, including Elis asking to be left alone and a moment when Jobim is seen wearing glasses while the two share a quiet, intimate exchange.
During breaks, Elis and Tom explore classical pieces with the contributions of Ari Barroso and Johnny Alf. Jobim demonstrates fluent guitar technique as his left hand glides through complex chords. The documentary highlights the influence of Caco Velho and Na Batucada da Vida, showcasing Barroso’s distinctive staccato rhythm in the context of Joao Gilberto’s bossa nova. Interestingly, one famous moment of that meeting—a lighthearted scene with laughter as Elis teases Jobim while he sings—does not appear in the final cut, adding to the film’s aura of hidden history.
Elis & Tom album cover. Archive Roberto de Oliveira, who directed the documentary, recalled realizing he was witnessing a historical moment. From the first moment the two were paired, he felt doubt about nothing; the potential for greatness seemed obvious. The project, however, faced its share of turbulence as the record nearly derailed. The two stars collided over musical direction, and Elis briefly prepared to leave for Brazil again.
From tension to love
Elis and Tom did not come together by accident. Roberto de Oliveira sought to restore Elis Regina’s standing after a controversial 1972 appearance at the Army Olympics. The cultural sector questioned Elis, and some critics argued that she had appeared to erase the challenges of the dictatorship. It mattered little that she performed at the event after remarks to foreign media that Brazil was ruled by gorillas. Tom Jobim, having spent years in the United States at the height of his career, felt underappreciated and restless in Brazil. The aim, as explained by de Oliveira, was to leverage Jobim’s prestige to elevate Elis. The approach found a welcome path through Jobim’s mediation and the support of Roberto Menescal, a founder of bossa nova.
The conflict erupted when Jobim learned that Elis Regina’s husband, César Camargo Mariano, aged 27, would be the pianist and arranger for the album. Jobim, revered as a master of harmony, could not accept another conductor for a project containing his songs. Diplomacy, led by Menescal and de Oliveira, cooled the fire. As de Oliveira describes it, the meeting of two geniuses yielded a flow of creativity. Elis and Tom contains moments charged with tension, with Jobim appearing stern and Elis and her husband uneasy. Yet there is a hush of affection after the storm. The project’s music began to take shape under new leadership, with Mariano studying Jobim’s chords with a dedicated student’s patience. Elis eventually embraces Jobim with enthusiasm and exclaims a desire to die at carnival. The tour’s success sealed the partnership, elevating Jobim’s profile in Brazil and allowing Elis to reclaim a stronger voice on stage.
Posthumous advertising queen
The documentary documents a powerful advertising phenomenon that followed Elis Regina’s legacy. A promotional campaign, featuring her image, revived a national conversation around her artistry. Her daughter Maria Rita, who rose to fame in 2003, carried forward the family’s musical lineage. A notable campaign tied to the iconic Volkswagen Kombi of the seventies featured Elis in a modernized commercial world, amplified by a major agency. The clip, which has accumulated millions of views, illustrates how Elis Regina’s likeness continued to command attention decades after her passing. Some critics and viewers debated the implications of deepfakes and the connections to the Brazilian military era, while others celebrated the enduring power of her voice and presence in the culture.
Elis Regina remains at the center of a national dialogue about art, memory, and public discourse. The documentary raises questions about her death and the competing accounts surrounding it. Some sources frame it as a suicide; others suggest different circumstances. The film presents these perspectives while allowing viewers to weigh the evidence themselves. In the end, Elis Regina’s voice is not silenced by controversy. Her artistry continues to resonate, shaping conversations about Brazil’s cultural identity and its musical heroes.
Elis Regina herself, through the documentary, appears to guide the narrative with a powerful, unmistakable presence. The scenes suggest that her story is not finished but evolving, inviting audiences to reflect on the lasting impact of her career and the broader history of Brazilian music. The film offers a portrait that blends intimate detail with historical significance, creating a lasting impression of a singer who changed the feel and direction of Brazilian popular music.