Amazônia

Sometimes it’s hard to find information on a soap opera (or telenovela) that aired in a foreign country a long time ago. When that show disappeared quickly, having not picked up much of an audience, it can be damn near impossible. That was nearly the case with Benedict Ruy Barbosa’s Amazônia, an Amazon-based series that, like most Brazilian telenovelas, featured much sex, much double-crossing, much nudity, and many attractive actors and actresses. First and foremost among them was Cristiana Oliveira, who had made her screen debut on the long running Pantanal series. But her appeal didn’t bring an audience to Amazônia and the network, Manchete Net, soon dropped the series. They didn’t trash the idea however, quickly retooling and re-airing the show as Amazônia: Part 2, a futuristic version of the first series. As recorded in the Brazilian press, “the failure continued and few notice when history arrives at the end.” Couldn’t have said better it myself.