In Black Orpheus, Brazil and Carnival become the backdrop to the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. In one of the more tragic love stories in Greek mythology, Eurydice is bitten by a snake on her wedding day and dies. Determined to bring back his love, Orpheus heads to the depths of hell to plead for her life. He is granted the chance, being told by the lord of the underworld that he can free Eurydice — he must walk back to the surface and she will follow, but if he looks back before they reach the light, she will fade away forever. Right before he reaches the surface, Orpheus — concerned that his love is having a hard time keeping up — turns back, watching her fade back into the darkness.

Black Orpheus brings this story into the contemporary world, utilizing the carnival as a metaphor for the supernatural world. Death, brought to life by a man in a skeleton suit, is pursuing Eurydice, and Orpheus — for as long as he can manage — tries to fight him off. Building on a classical idea of heaven and the afterlife, one that predates Christianity, Black Orpheus does not offer love, forgiveness or belief as a saving grace. As noble and true as Orpheus’ love is, it cannot overcome death. Love is a part of life, and maybe the best part of living, but it still cannot help us transcend our mortality. Perhaps this is what’s so powerful about Jesus, as he taught that the capacity to love (and forgive) would ensure some kind of immortality. Black Orpheus doesn’t ignore this completely, allowing love to live on through song.