Spike Lee’s Rio Visit Postponed as Festival Screens ‘Luta de Classes’ Without Him

Overview

• Rio’s culture department and RioFilme announced the postponement on October 19 and said an updated schedule will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
• The honorary citizenship planned for Spike Lee remains on the agenda after approval by Alerj in May at the initiative of deputy Dani Balbi.
• Festival do Rio kept special free screenings of ‘Luta de Classes’ for audiences at Cinesystem Belas Artes Botafogo and Estação NET Rio despite the director’s absence.
• ‘Luta de Classes’ is Lee’s new feature starring Denzel Washington, presented as a contemporary reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s ‘High and Low’.
• The original program included meetings with filmmakers and Black artists in the Pequena África area and local hospitality coordinated by city officials, with chef Katia Barbosa prepared to host.