Volume 10 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.804194 This article is part of the Research TopicPrecambrian PaleontologyView all 13 articles Deciphering the evolution of ecological interactions among the metabolic types during the early diversification of life on Earth is crucial for our understanding of the ancient biosphere The stromatolites from the genus Conophyton cylindricus represent a datum for the Proterozoic (Meso to Neoproterozoic) on Earth Their typical conical shape has been considered a result of a competition between microorganisms for space Well-preserved records of this genus from the “Paleontological Site of Cabeludo” São Francisco Craton (Southern Brazil) present in situ fossilized biofilms Petrographic and geochemical analyses revealed an alternation between mineral laminae (light grey laminae) and fossilized biofilms (dark grey laminae) The dark grey laminae comprise three different biofilms recording a stratified microstructure of microbial communities These three biofilms composing the dark grey laminae tend to be organized in a specific pattern that repeats through the stromatolite vertical section Iron and manganese are distributed differently along the dark and light grey laminae; X-ray absorption and luminescence data showed possible different areas with authigenic iron and iron provided from diagenetic infiltration Cryptocrystalline apatite in the lowermost biofilms in each dark grey laminae may suggest past metabolic activity of sulfide-oxidizing bacteria These findings suggest that the microorganisms reached a complex metabolic diversification in order to maintain an equilibrium situation between the three different biofilms along the vertical section of the structures thus benefiting the whole microbial community This means that the stromatolites from the Conophyton genus may have formed as a result of a greater complexity of interactions between microorganisms and not only from competition between photosynthesizers This means that its morphology results from the predominance of intrinsic factors (how the biota behaves and induces mineral precipitation) over extrinsic factors (how external parameters influence the shape of the structures such as physical depositional factors as water currents and energy involved) It is hypothesized that the typical conical shape of Conophyton is a result of a competition for sunlight and space among microorganisms which formed the structures (Walter, 1977; Sallun Filho and Fairchild, 2005) The competition for sunlight and for nutrients in the same space would induce the biofilms to grow in greater volume towards the apical region of the stromatolite in formation This is corroborated by the preservation of accumulated carbonaceous matter in the apical region of each laminae of fossilized stromatolites Fossilized biofilms can be observed in its microscopic texture This opens a window for possibilities of exploration of possible biosignatures preserved in order to better understand the biological controls that exert a role in the conical formation Petrographic thin-sections of the Conophytons from the Paleontological Site of Cabeludo revealed an alternation between dark-light laminated build-up composed mostly of amorphous silica (chert), quartz grains and dolomite, and dark-gray lamine composed of preserved organic matter (kerogen). These darker regions have been interpreted as preserved biofilms (Dardenne, 2005) we observed a stratification within these preserved biofilms which suggests a more complex construction of these stromatolites during the Meso-Neoproterozoic Here we propose the existence of more than one type of preserved biofilm in these Conophytons besides an organization trend according to their metabolic needs responsive to environmental factors we investigated the internal build-up of the ancient preserved biofilms in order to assess the development of the biofilm from its initial to mature stage Our approach consisted of combining different methods at microscopic scales for understanding the microscopic textures and resolving the inorganic and organic phases Petrographic analysis was used for preliminary inspection of the microscopic textures Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) provided us higher resolution information of the superficial textures including the low Z elements present (e.g. For deeper investigation of the elements present at microns of depths and down to trace concentrations we did synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (XRF) maps Raman spectroscopy was used for mapping the presence of kerogen and some mineral phases the last further corroborated by synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction (XRD) X-ray absorption (XANES) allowed us to deepen the chemical investigation by revealing the chemical species of Fe and Mn present in the samples and X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) added to this comprehension by providing maps of luminescent areas these methods provided us with ways of deeper understanding of the geochemistry of the different Conophyton textures and finding patterns that pointed to the presence of different metabolisms These are represented by a differentiated geochemistry along the distinct preserved biofilms which could mean biosignatures indicative of non-photosynthetic activities and also biominerals resulting from the alternative metabolisms to photosynthesis such as cryptocrystalline apatite (suggesting the past sulfide-oxidizing bacteria metabolic activity) The findings may indicate a greater complexity of microbial interactions between co-habitant microorganisms which formed the Conophytons showing that these microorganisms developed other strategies of survival instead of competition by space and sunlight Geological map of Meso/Neoproterozoic Vazante Group highlighting the Paleontological site of Cabeludo Brazil (coordinates 17°43’ 33’’ S; 46°45’ 32’’W) The insert on the right indicates the location of the Paleontological site of Cabeludo in southeastern Brazil Those samples which presented better preservation of biofilms in thin section analysis were chosen to be explored with the techniques described subsequently We prepared eleven thin sections of 30 µm thickness (without glass coverslip to allow compositional analysis) They were analyzed at the Paleohydrogeology Laboratory of the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) with a Carl Zeiss petrographic microscope Scope A1 ZEISS The images were recorded with a ZEISS AxioCam camera and processed with ZEISS AxioVision® 4.8.2.0 We obtained compositional analyses and secondary electron images using the JEOL 8530F electron probe at the Carnegie Institution for Science (Washington The images and maps were recorded in nine areas of interest within the CP6/196 thin section The probe was operated at 15 kV and 20 nA We also performed quantitative analyses in each chosen point using the Thermo Scientific Energy Dispersive System (EDS) Samples were coated with iridium to mitigate charging and to facilitate the analysis of carbon The Raman Spectroscopy analyses were performed at Carnegie Institution of Science (Washington The Raman images were acquired with the WITec Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscope with a camera system coupled to the microscope The excitation source was a frequency-doubled solid-state YAG laser (532 nm) operating between 0.01 and 5 mW output power Spectra were collected on a Peltier-cooled Marconi 40-11 CCD chip after passing through a f/4,300 mm focal length imaging spectrometer using a 600 lines/mm grating We used the WITec Project Plus software to map peaks of interest across the sample and compute peak intensity maps The micro XANES measurements were firstly performed using the XRF beamline (LNLS—UVX) around Fe K edge and posteriorly using the Carnaúba beamline (LNLS - Sirius) around the Mn K edge The XRF beamline was used in monochromatic beam mode provided by the Si (111) crystal and a microbeam provided by the KB system (12 µm × 25 µm) Samples were measured in air and at room temperature The XANES spectra were collected in fluorescence mode using the SDD detector available at the beamline (Ketek The higher spectral resolution was 0.3 eV The Fe K-edge data from the sample was compared with synthetic standards (measured at the XAFS1 and XAFS2 beamlines of LNLS) and natural standards (measured with micro-beam in the XRF beamline) These mentioned studies were performed at LNLS UVX storage ring that is now decommissioned The Mn-K edges were also measured in the Carnaúba beamline (LNLS—Sirius), in order to have more accuracy in the obtained results, due to its resolution (beam size down to 150 nm × 400 nm, obtained with KB mirrors) and higher flux, once the new accelerator (Sirius) is a 4th generation machine and the beamline uses a 4-channel monochromator developed in-house (Tolentino et al., 2021) The measurements were acquired in fluorescence mode using VortexⓇME4 SSD detectors (Hitachi) on the energy range of 6,500–6,600 eV The data was compared with that of synthetic standards of MnO (Mn2+) and Mn2O3 (Mn3+) measured in transmission mode with an Alibava (AS04-105A) photodiode X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) experiments were performed at the XRF beamline from the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS) This setup is composed of an Al-coated 15X objective reflexive lens (ThorLabs) with a working distance of 23 mm that is used to collect the light emitted by the sample after the interaction with X-rays This light was collimated in a parabolic collimator (ThorLabs) also Al coated Ocean Optics) that was coupled to a spectrometer (QEPro with spot size of 12 µm × 25 µm The optical signal was acquired in emission mode monitoring the range from 200–950 nm The hyperspectral image was analyzed using the PyMCA software in 2D mapping The angle of the laminae at the apex is 50° on average but it can reach 30° in the basal laminae Morphology and internal build-up of Conophyton in outcrop; Paleontological Site of Cabeludo (A) regularly-spaced concentric laminae in plan view (Scale: geological hammer—35 cm); (B) sketch of the concentric laminae preservation degree increases toward the center of the structure; (C) conical laminae in profile view of the outcrop Note closed angulation of the laminae and vertical alignment of the apex (Scale: 10 cm); (D) close-up view highlighting the planar contact between conical-shaped laminae and the host lithology (Scale: 10 cm) We observed distinguishable alternations of dark grey laminae (400–600 µm thickness) and light grey to white laminae (700 μm–1 mm thickness) in petrographic analysis (Figure 3) Despite the overall good preservation of these Conophyton from the Vazante Group post depositional modifications also occur these post depositional changes were not harmful to the evaluation of the original microscopic texture of the stromatolites (A) Thin section overview showing alternating dark grey laminae and light grey to white laminae (scale bar: 500 µm); (B) sketch of the distribution pattern of the biofilms along four stages of development forming the Conophyton’s organization; (C) Petrographic images of Conophyton showing three different organic-rich laminae Cut in vertical section in the apical zone of organic-rich laminae of the Conophyton (scale bar: 500 μm) intermediate part of Conophyton; DL- dolomite; (D) cut in vertical section lateral zone of organic-rich laminae (scale bar: 500 μm); DL—dolomite; mc - micrite Comparison of the main observed characteristics of the three biofilms comprising each dark grey laminae kerogen (D band at 1,366 cm−1 and G band at 1,583 cm−1) and quartz (464 cm−1 and 203 cm−1) Raman spectroscopy analysis of the CP6/196 sample (A) thin section with mapped area (0.2 mm × 0.6 mm) covering both dark grey laminae (biofilms) and light grey laminae (dolomite and quartz crystals); (B) map of quantitative distribution of kerogen showing higher counts for kerogen in the biofilm area; (C) map of quantitative distribution of dolomite showing homogeneous distribution in the two laminae; (D) sparse quartz grains distributed in both laminae; (E) Raman spectra of dolomite at 1,098 cm−1 (red and blue) carbon (kerogen) with D band at 1,366 cm−1 and G band at 1,583 cm−1 (blue) and quartz at 464 cm−1 and 203 cm−1(green) The XRD data showed that the main mineral phase present in the Conophytons is dolomite. All Bragg reflexions (indexed according to the AMCSD 0000108, Graf 1961), correspond to dolomite (Supplementary Figure S1) the presence of discontinuous rings and isolated spots on the 2D diffraction patterns indicates that the beam is illuminating a small amount of crystallites phases in a small fraction remain undetermined (A) thin section showing the analyzed area (dark grey laminae biofilm; indicated by square); (B) point 1 EDS spectra compatible with apatite; (C) analyzed area with square 1 (mineral in biofilm II) and square 2 (matrix); (D) point 2 EDS spectra K and Al are more absorbed within the rock or by the air making their detection harder than heavier elements does not imply the absence of these elements in our samples µ-X-Ray fluorescence elemental maps from the sample CP6/203b (A) Petrographic image (scale bar = 500 μm) showing the area analyzed containing the three types of biofilms (dark grey laminae) and light grey laminae The yellow square represents the mapped area mapped with 30 μm step size; (B) Analyzed area (yellow square) with biofilm I II and III and hydrothermal vein (hv) mapped in 30 μm stepsize (LNLS) and area of biofilm III selected to be mapped with higher resolution at microXAS beamline SLS (red square); (C) X-ray fluorescence spectra of Fe obtained in the mapped areas from biofilm I II and III; (D) elemental maps with 30 µm of step size (XRF beamline LNLS) in area covering the three types of biofilms plus an area with hydrothermal vein (with highest intensity of Mn) scale bar = 1 mm; (E) elemental maps with 3 µm of step size (microXAS beamline All maps of the figure show the composition of Ca (blue) Even though the signal-to-noise is high due to the low concentration of Mn It is noticeable that both measurements (biofilm I and II and biofilm III) present edges position compatible with the one observed in MnO which is a reference for Mn2+ indicating the predominance of Mn in 2 + form in both biofilms XANES absorption spectra of the sample CP6/196 (A) Normalized absorption curves and comparison between the synthetic Fe standards and the Conophyton sample; (B) Normalized absorption curves of synthetic Mn standards and Conophyton sample X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) image with respective emission spectra under X-ray irradiation (A) Selected area to be mapped (scale bar: 2 mm) and region with hydrothermal vein (hv); (B) X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) temperature scale image (2 mm × 4 mm) acquired at the X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) beamline at the LNLS with step size of 30 μm; (C) general emission spectra showing a broadband at the orange-red wavelength range at 650 nm There is no evidence for bacterial cells and filaments preserved in the fossilized biofilms from the Conophytons of the Paleontological Site of Cabeludo. However, the biofilms are well preserved in both macro and microstructure. Here, we support that these biofilms have been partially preserved as organic matter (OM) diffused in a dolomitic matrix in regions considered to be authigenic (observed in petrographic thin sections as dark gray laminae) (Figure 3) This sedimentological context also supports a mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) hypothesis. By studying different types of carbonates of microbial origin in different environmental contexts, Melim et al. (2016) indicated that the entombment of microbes and EPS in carbonates is more widespread than previously thought: it does not occur in travertines because of the photolytic degradation by sunlight considering the environmental and physical conditions mentioned for the good preservation of the microbial signatures mentioned above the paleoenvironmental context of Conophytons from the Cabeludo could have favored biofilm preservation due to the fast mineralization the Fe3+ detected in the region of preserved biofilms may also have been another factor that helped the preservation of OM in Conophytons in an experiment with cultivation-independent molecular techniques in several modern stromatolites attested to a greater microbial diversity in marine and hypersaline stromatolites Based on the complexity of the ecosystems that gave rise to some of the stromatolites and microbial mats in the Precambrian comparing them with their modern representatives we suggest the possibility of greater complexity in the formation of Conophytons from the Paleontological Site of Cabeludo Stage 1: in the initial phase of the stromatolite formation The biofilm I is located in the deeper zone of the mat while the biofilm II is located in the surface; this arrangement may be due to affinity (synergy) and similar needs of the two constituents for resources such as nutrients and light Stage 2: a new type of biofilm (biofilm III) colonizes the preceding two biofilms demonstrating a certain competition among the different species for light This can be observed by the higher concentration of biomass (II and III) starting to accumulate at the apex of the laminae biofilms I and II appear to be distributed in the same pattern observed in stage I while the biofilm III occupies the upper zone near the apex of the laminations Stage 3: the three biofilms appear to have reached a certain equilibrium regarding their spatial distribution and organization according to each metabolic needs: an even pattern of distribution of the biofilms is established following the sequence of development (from the bottom to the top of the community): biofilm I → biofilm II → biofilm III Stage 4: the pattern of spatial distribution and organization of the biofilms reached in the stage 3 starts to repeat until the top of the stromatolites as observed in thin sections of the top part of the structures Distribution of the three different biofilms in Conophyton from the bottom to the top of a thin section (CP6/203b) Sequence of distribution of the different biofilms from the bottom of the structure (stage 1; 1 in yellow square) to the upper laminations towards the top (stage 4; 4 in yellow square) and organization of the biofilms according to resources the biofilm II is organized above the biofilm I a new type of biofilm (biofilm III) develops above the biofilm I and II the biofilm I and II remain diffusely organized (represented by I + II) while the biofilm III is arranged at the apex but still seems to mix with the biofilm II (represented by II + III) the sequence of distribution follows the pattern (from the bottom to the top of the laminae: biofilm I → biofilm II → biofilm III.) The pattern is repeated in the subsequent laminations to the top of the stromatolite laminae with a pointed apex (especially those formed by greater mass of biofilms) may show high competition between constituents Where the stromatolite apex is more rounded the biofilms have been assembled and reached an equilibrium stage A possible interpretation for the difference in biofilms distribution is that at certain times of high environmental stress (such as decrease of nutrient availability) probably due to a periodic lack of illumination the biofilms’ community disperses and moves towards the best light and nutrient exposure regions The competition for the resources is documented by biofilm in stage 2 The stage 1 is the original state of distribution of biofilms (types I and II) in the beginning of the microorganism proliferation; due to a possible increase in light and nutrient provision the biofilm type III started to associate with the original biofilms I and II Possibly motivated by environmental stress biofilm III struggled towards the top after spreading out which was maintained until the top of the structures Our most plausible hypothesis to explain this interaction and distribution between biofilms I II and III is that at least the biofilm II and III were constituted by photoautotrophs which preferentially remains at the base of the stratification formed possibly belongs to a non-photosynthetic metabolic type in situations of environmental stress due to the lack of nutrients and sunlight biofilm III would be more effective than biofilm II Other hypotheses include the influence of textural aspects (crystal size porosity and permeability) that likely might have controlled the distribution of the organic matter within the rock framework The repetitive organization of biofilms and their vertical distribution indicates that textural aspects did not exert a major influence in organic matter content a random distribution of kerogen would be expected heterogeneous modifications by weathering are not the case since oxidation and chemical reactions would cause degradation of the organic matter from the top toward the bottom which is not the case in the Cabeludo site weathering would damage the internal organization of the Conophyton structure although metamorphism and hydrothermalism occur in the vicinity of the study area lack of high temperature/high pressure minerals) indicate that these processes did not cause significant modifications in the composition of the Conophyton Geochemical data exhibit predominance of Ca whereas elements commonly associated with high temperatures (Cu Zn) were not detected in the analyzed samples The only signal of hydrothermalism affecting the Cabeludo site is fracture-filling veins but this process likely took place after lithification as indicated by the predominantly tabular-shaped veinlets that crosscut the Conophyton Metamorphic evidence is not present in the study area since the recrystallization of dolomite is interpreted to have occurred during diagenesis Exclusively in areas with biofilm I (and sometimes in the biofilm II), phosphate occurs as cryptocrystalline apatite. As shown in Figure 5D very small crystals of apatite appear in the biofilm II area (within the dark grey laminae) while in the other areas such as the biofilm III and the light grey laminae the biofilm I preferentially remains at the base of the stratification in each dark grey laminae meaning a lower need for sunlight than biofilms II and III there is a possibility that biofilm I may consist of non-photosynthetic species it is possible that Sr may have been associated with the microbially-induced calcite nucleation during the growth of the stromatolite explaining the co-location of Ca and Sr in the fossilized biofilm zones it is not possible to exclude the hypothesis of substitution of Ca2+ by Sr2+ in the crystal lattice of carbonates by abiotic way they suggest that SOB were involved in phosphogenesis in fossil microbial mats with phosphate-rich laminations under aphotic conditions the fact that biofilm I is located in the deepest layer of dark-grey laminae exposes it to constant sunlight deprivation since photosynthetic biofilms are always above them The inorganic phosphate precipitation could be considered in Conophytons the mineral occur only in areas of biofilm I and sometimes Another evidence for the exclusion of this possibility is the size of the crystals never reaching more than 10 µm diagenetically included after the lithification of the stromatolitic structure the X-ray absorption analysis detected the presence of chemical species such as Fe2+ Fe3+ in areas of preserved biofilms The Fe3+ are present in hydrothermal veins and cracks possibly the result of diagenetic incorporation by incursion of hydrothermal fluids and/or groundwater before the stromatolite’s lithification This last role is what probably happened during the fossilization process of the biofilms in Conophytons of Cabeludo Paleontological Site The stromatolites of the subgroup Conophyton cylindricus Maslov present in the Paleontological Site of Cabeludo are a typical occurrence of the conical bioconstructions from the Mesoproterozoic morphological characteristics pointing towards the past presence of a stratification of at least three different types of biofilms forming the preserved organic laminae (the dark grey laminae) of the stromatolite The three different biofilms form a pattern of distribution denoting an equilibrium situation between them towards the top of the structures The presence of carbonate laminations rich in phosphates in the deepest biofilms in each dark grey laminae (biofilms I and II) are indicative of the possibility of past existence of sulfide-oxidizing bacteria the diversity in the microbiota which formed these stromatolites was greater than previously thought explaining the microscopically observed stratification The datasets presented in this study can be found in online repositories. The names of the repository/repositories and accession number(s) can be found in the article/Supplementary Material All the authors contributed in the writhing interpretations and discussion of the results F-RB and AM made the field trip for collecting samples; VC DB and DF participated of the sample’s analysis VC and F-RB participated in the discussion of results; F-RB coordinated the first phase of the study and provided the financial support for the field trip Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education—CAPES and the PDSE Program for the financial support and scholarship in the beginning of the study; National Council for Scientific and Technological Development—CNPq Research Productivity Grants (310817/2020-0 310,890/2021-7 and 303527/2017–0) and the São Paulo Research Foundation—FAPESP grants 2016/20927-0 and 2016/06114-6 (for funding the field trips to collect the samples) 2020/02537-5 and 2021/05083-8 for funding analysis and fellowship for this project and 2015/21810-6 scholarship; the French National Research Agency in the framework of the Investissements d’Avenir program (ANR-15IDEX-02) The authors thank the University of Brasília Nexa Resources and the geologist Bruno Baptistella for the support in the field trip; the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS) for the facilities (µ-XRF 20160140 and 20180687) and Carnauba beamline (XANES proposal 20210014); the microXAS beamline at Swiss Light Source (SLS proposal 20190823); the Earth and Planets Laboratory at the Carnegie Institution of Science (Washington DC) for the availability of the Raman spectrometer and EPMA microprobe Onary Alves (USP) for some clarification on terms and concepts about biological evolution The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.804194/full#supplementary-material CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “Definition of stromatolite,” in Stromatolite newsletter Google Scholar “The history and significance of stromatolites,” in Early organic evolution (Berlin CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “Lithification and fabric Genesis in precipitated stromatolites and associated peritidal carbonates CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Neoproterozoic Re–Os systematics of organic-rich rocks in the São Francisco Basin Brazil and implications for hydrocarbon exploration CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Evolution and environmental conditions of Conophyton—Jacutophyton associations in the atar dolomite (upper proterozoic CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Paléoécologie de certains stromatolites en récifs des formations du Précambrien supérieur du groupe d’Atar (mauritanie sahara Occidental): création d'espèces nouvelles de ces récifs CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Microbialites: Organosedimentary deposits of benthic microbial communities CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar A radical reinterpretation of the growth and form of the stromatolite Conophyton lituus (Maslov) from evidence of syngenetic biofilm mineralisation CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Ediacaran stromatolites and intertidal phosphorite of the Salitre Formation Brazil: Phosphogenesis during the neoproterozoic oxygenation event CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Iron-mediated organic matter decomposition in humid soils can counteract protection PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Proterozoic age of the bambui group in Brazil doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1973)84<1673:PAOTBG>2.0.CO;2 CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Conophyton in the bambui group: What form and age doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1973)1<127:CITBGW>2.0.CO;2 CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “Variations in the global phosphorus cycle,” in Marine authigenesis: From global to microbial (Tulsa OK: Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Special Publication) CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar The role of microbes in the formation of modern and ancient phosphatic mineral deposits PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Conophyton: Um fóssil index do precambriano no grupo Bambuí Google Scholar “The Brasília Fold belt,” in Tectonic evolution of South America,31 international geological congress Google Scholar Grupo Vazante (MG) – registro de construções dolomíticas por cianobactérias no Proterozóico do Brasil,” in Sítios Geológicos e Paleontológicos do Brasil Google Scholar Microbial biofilms: From ecology to molecular genetics PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar XRDUA: crystalline phase distribution maps by two-dimensional scanning and tomographic (micro) X-ray powder diffraction CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “Chemical communication within microbial biofilms: chemotaxis and quorum sensing in bacteria cells,” in Microbial extracellular polymeric substances CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Microbial mats and the early evolution of life PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Microbial lithification in marine stromatolites and hypersaline mats PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Processes of carbonate precipitation in modern microbial mats CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “Microbialitos dos Grupos Paranoá (Mesoproterozoico) e Vazante (Neoproterozoico) Goiás e Minas Gerais,” in Microbialitos do brasil do pré-cambriano ao recente: um atlas Google Scholar Provenance shift from a continental margin to a syn-orogenic basin in the Neoproterozoic Araxá nappe system CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Microbial precipitation of a strontium calcite phase at a groundwater discharge zone near rock Creek CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “Microbial diversity in modern stromatolites,” in Stromatolites: Interaction of microbes with sediments CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar and future: microbial mats as models for astrobiological research,” in Cellular origin life in extreme habitats and astrobiology: Microbial mats: Modern and ancient microorganisms in stratified systems CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Modern luminescence spectroscopy of minerals and materials Switzerland: Springer International Publishing Google Scholar “Ocurrencia de Conophyton en Cantera Burgueño (Nueva Carrara Uruguay): nuevos afloramientos del Grupo Mina Verdún y su importancia IV Congreso Uruguayo de Geología,” in Cuarto congreso uruguayo de Geología Google Scholar Crystallographic tables for the rhombohedral carbonates Google Scholar “Facies and evolution of precambrian depositional systems: emergence of the modern platform archetype,” in Controls on carbonate platform and basin development CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Low limit of Mn2+-activated cathodoluminescence of calcite: state of the art CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Comparative characterization of the microbial diversities of an artificial microbialite model and a natural stromatolite PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Metallomics in deep time and the influence of ocean chemistry on the metabolic landscapes of Earth’s earliest ecosystems PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “Environmental diversity of middle precambrian stromatolites,” in Stromatolites CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “Archean stromatolites as microbial archives,” in Microbial sediments CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “Stromatolites of the middle proterozoic belt Supergroup Montana: a summary and a comment on the relationship between their morphology and paleoenvironment,” in Paleoalgology CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “Reinterpreting a proterozoic enigma: Conophyton–Jacutophyton stromatolites of the mesoproterozoic atar group Mauritania” in Perspectives in Carbonate Geology A Tribute to the Career of Robert Nathan Ginsburg Wiley: International Association of Sedimentologists Spec CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Kögel-Knabner Organo-mineral associations in temperate soils: Integrating biology CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Preservation of organic matter in sediments promoted by iron PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Humic substances as electron acceptors for microbial respiration CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Luminescence database I—minerals and materials PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Methods and instrumentations: Results and recent developments Google Scholar Preservation of fossil microbes and biofilm in cave pool carbonates and comparison to other microbial carbonate environments CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar On a columnar stromatolite in the precambrian bambui group of central Brazil CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Preservation of organic carbon in dolomitized Cambrian stromatolites and implications for microbial biosignatures in diagenetically replaced carbonate rock CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “Biofilms and microbial mats,” in Biostabilization of sediments Google Scholar Significance of bacterial surface-active compounds in interaction of bacteria with interfaces PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Electric currents couple spatially separated biogeochemical processes in marine sediment PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Archaean metabolic evolution of microbial mats CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Stromatolites and MISS – differences between relatives CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Microbially induced sedimentary structures recording an ancient ecosystem in the PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Diverse Syntrophic partnerships from deep-sea methane vents revealed by direct cell capture and metagenomics PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar The control of cathodoluminescence in dolomite by iron and manganese CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “Intercontinental correlations,” in Stromatolites CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Microboring versus recrystallization: further insight into the micritization process doi:10.1306/2DC408FA-0E47-11D7-8643000102C1865D CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “The nature of stromatolites: 3,500 million years of history and a century of research,” in Advances in stromatolite geobiology (Berlin CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Provenance of the Vazante group: New U–Pb Lu–Hf isotopic data and implications for the tectonic evolution of the neoproterozoic Brasília belt CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Unveiling microbial interactions in stratified mat communities from a warm saline shallow pond PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Estudo comparativo entre estromatólitos do tipo Conophyton das Faixas Ribeira e Brasília São Paulo: Revista do Instituto Geológico CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Precambrian paleobiology: problems and perspectives CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Microfossils in conophyton from the vendian deposits of South Kazakhstan Google Scholar Large sulfur bacteria and the formation of phosphorite PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Biofilm microfacies in phosphoritic units of the neoproterozoic halkal shale CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar A multiplatform code for the analysis of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectra CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Metabolic modeling of a mutualistic microbial community PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Biofilms as complex differentiated communities doi:10.1146/annurev.micro.56.012302.160705 PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “X-ray microscopy developments at sirius-LNLS: first commissioning experiments at the Carnauba beamline,” in Proceedings SPIE 11839 X-Ray Nanoimaging: Instruments and Methods V CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Spatial organization of microbial biofilm communities PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Stromatolites in caves in southeastern Brazil and their importance to geoconservation CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Google Scholar Walter, M. R. (1977). Interpreting Stromatolites: These fossils can tell us much about past organisms and environments if we can learn to decode their message. Am. Sci. 65 (5), 563–571. Available at: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27848083 Google Scholar Role of bacterial mats in oxygen-deficient marine basins and coastal upwelling regimes: preliminary report doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1983)11<267:ROBMIO>2.0.CO;2 CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Subtidal stromatolites in monterey formation and other organic-rich rocks as suggested source contributors to petroleum formation doi:10.1306/AD4619F8-16F7-11D7-8645000102C1865D CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Manganese carbonate stromatolites of the ediacaran doushantuo formation in chengkou CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Rodrigues F and Galante D (2022) Evidence for metabolic diversity in Meso-Neoproterozoic stromatolites (Vazante Group Received: 29 October 2021; Accepted: 30 June 2022;Published: 22 July 2022 Copyright © 2022 Callefo, Ricardi-Branco, Alves Forancelli Pacheco, Cardoso, Noffke, de Carvalho Teixeira, Neckel, Maldanis, Bullock, Bower, Moreira Silva, Ferreira Sanchez, Rodrigues and Galante. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Douglas Galante, ZG91Z2xhcy5nYWxhbnRlQGxubHMuYnI= Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish Reviews The Brazilian filmmaker Daniela Thomas is a longtime collaborator of Walter Salles, whose “Central Station” and “The Motorcycle Diaries” made international splashes in the early 2000s Salles is a socially conscious filmmaker who with “Vazante,” to be more invested in atmosphere and mood than statement at least early into “Vazante,” a film set in the early decades of the 19th century slaves were kept by landowners during this time the movie opens with shots of water flowing down a stream A slave woman encourages her white mistress to push But the flow of life is not continued; the woman dies in childbirth With his deep, sad eyes, Adriano Carvalho makes Antonio look a bit like a tragic hero at first but he’s only fulfilling his part in a system he doesn’t control the movie hardly believes this surmise to be the case but takes its time making its true point of view known The languidly-paced picture has a staggering array of beautiful images and vistas. (The cinematographer is Inti Briones who also shot the striking 2011 film “The Loneliest Planet.”) Shots of a line of horsemen making their way slowly over a path on the side of a cliff face are epic But this saga is not a triumphant one in any way The only thing blacks on this farm know is mining gems,” Jeremias says to Antonio about midway through the film The movie’s finale is a shocker, but it’s in a certain tradition. If you remember the movie version of “Ragtime,” made in 1981, it calls to mind that film’s treatment of the police commissioner Rhinelander Waldo. Played by a crusty but avuncular James Cagney in one of his final film roles he seems like a good man in a bad situation That work and this work make the same statement: that regardless of how sympathetic a person committing racist acts might be committing those acts makes him or her a vital cog in the system that they would otherwise claim to be powerless to resist “Vazante” translates as “The Surge,” and the actual surge it depicts is one that bends not just to injustice but atrocity. Glenn Kenny was the chief film critic of Premiere magazine for almost half of its existence. He has written for a host of other publications and resides in Brooklyn. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here All rights reserved Support forthis publication has been provided through the National Endowment for the Arts Moving Image Source was developed with generous and visionary support from the Hazen Polsky Foundation Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker I spoke to director Daniela Thomas on the phone as she took a tour of the Museum of African American History in Boston The Brazilian filmmaker is in the States to promote her film Vazante a harrowing work which deals with the lives of slave traders and slaves in the 19th century As Thomas learned about the history of American heroes like Frederick Douglass and paused the interview to ask her tour guide questions about what she was seeing it became clear that there was no better place for this conversation to occur has a shameful history of failing to deal with the aftermath of slavery and the ways in which those seeds of bigotry helped create the societies that are still in power today Thomas mostly focuses on the experience of Beatriz (Luana Nastas) a young woman who marries her late aunt’s husband (Adriano Carvalho) a severe cattle owner and slave trader obsessed with his work a perfect reflection of its lush black and white images which don’t allow for an easy experience for the audience I spoke to Thomas about the themes of the film People in America are still seeing the repercussions of slavery… And also in the current administration that has raged a war against people of color I’m curious about the way in which Brazil deals with their past with slavery There’s a very famous act that happened as soon as the abolition of slavery in 1888 - later than any other country in the world - Ruy Barbosa who was the minister of finance burned the documents of property of slaves in order to eliminate this stain from Brazilian history That way he also avoided the masters claiming compensation for the slaves Did you make Vazante to remind people of this shameful part of their history As a student of history I’ve always felt the need to have a picture of my past In Brazil identity is an important subject in the arts I loved 2001: A Space Odyssey and its images of space remained forever in my imagination cinema has created such powerful images to help us see the past Was trying to create these images exciting or intimidating There are important films in the past about Brazil in the tradition of Cinema Novo for instance The film is in black and white which allows for some beautiful images even though a lot of what we see happen to the characters is horrible I wanted to achieve verisimilitude but my background is art direction and set design I can’t escape the idea of the power of nature the people...I have an obsession with composition so I tried compensating that with the composition and the beautiful images you’re obviously fascinated with women on the sidelines Can you talk about why these stories are important It’s a question of listening to the silenced those we take for granted as being non-agents of society The mother in Linha de Passe is the backbone of the four kids she’s a very important character in the film Vazante felt like a prequel to Linha de Passe where we see how all the class structures and racial divides applied centuries later My father told me that up until 50 or 60 years ago girls would be forced to marry at 11 or 12 and before that 6 or 7 year old girls would marry It was an economic contract between families and big landowners Men had young wives who would give them many children and these slave mistresses of which they also had many What we’re facing now in the world is the idea that normality is anything but normal we have to face the fact that we are racists a black child has less opportunities to advance in society “Vazante” is chillingly beautiful and thoroughly awful stuffed with grief and tragedy while wrestling with the dynamics of power comes home to find his wife has died in childbirth leaving him alone with her demented mother Antonio commands respect from the slaves who serve him Soon he settles on a new bride: His wife’s 12-year-old niece stuck living off Antonio in the middle of nowhere So the slave trader marries his child bride He’ll wait for her to mature; in the meantime he’ll go about his business which takes him away from his home compound for long periods of time During which the pre-adolescent Beatriz finds solace and connection playing with the slave children Eventually Beatriz becomes pregnant and Antonio becomes attentive Director and co-writer Daniela Thomas is a wonder She stages shots that look like museum paintings — landscapes dining room interiors — and then lingers on them in black-and-white majesty The lack of color lends a sense of antiquity and isolation but it also offers a stark grace that grinds against the awful humanity of the story Thomas finds it in big swells and small touches — the way Antonio hates shoes that pinch his feet the way Beatriz is terrorized by her older sister when she’s chosen to be a bride In a slave who eats mud to free himself from life’s bonds Movie review: The drama with an art-film drift takes place some six decades before the abolition of slavery on a squalid farm deep in the mountains “Vazante” is an origin story written in bile and ornamented with reluctant beauty It takes place in southeastern Brazil in 1821 — some six decades before the abolition of slavery — on a squalid farm deep in the mountains is trying to make a go of it on the backs of enslaved black men and he seems equally terrible at everything else a tragedy that suggests that here life itself is doomed from the start Indolent and apparently untroubled by his multiple failings Antonio had received the farm as part of his wife’s dowry Her doddering mother (Juliana Carneiro Da Cunha) came with the place pitiless world and might be a near-unbearable starting with the black-and-white cinematography that draws you in jet — that soon take on metaphoric resonance from a screenplay by Thomas and Beto Amaral The New York Times does not provide star ratings with reviews Thomas plots the narrative coordinates fairly leisurely Antonio’s brother-in-law (Roberto Audio) slides into the picture with his unhappy wife (Sandra Corveloni) and their two daughters leaving his child bride and addled mother-in-law with his openly restless slaves a development that makes next to no narrative sense but gives Thomas ample time to stir up trouble Beatriz is soon running through the fields with a young slave His mother (Jai Baptista) is routinely forced to share Antonio’s bed which suggests that Virgílio may be Antonio’s son one more complication in a lyrically minded movie that wafts into schematic tidiness and bluntness Thomas is obviously interested in how race influences gender and class It’s also evident that she doesn’t want to make a thesis movie or put speeches in anyone’s mouth So for much of the movie she comes at her ideas sideways letting her images carry the weight of her meaning it’s hard not to wish that Thomas had traded a bit of her art-film drift for something more direct One of her strongest characters turns out to be an unnamed slave (Toumani Kouyaté who’s part of a new group that Antonio brings to the farm this man serves as the group’s leader and insistently speaks up ostensibly because no one at the farm understands the newcomers The one man here worth listening to has been effectively silenced Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser By Wendy Ide2017-02-10T21:00:00+00:00 Colonial-era Brazil is shot in lustrous black and white in Daniela Thoma’s story of tragedy A regular collaborator of Walter Salles – she co-directed Foreign Land Midnight and Linha de Passe – Daniela Thomas makes her solo directing debut with this striking study of racial and gender politics in colonial Brazil The story unfolds against a backdrop which could serve as the setting to a Joseph Conrad novella viewed through the prism of the Portuguese owners of a tapped-out mine it’s clear that the rot has set into the colonial rule of this isolated corner of Brazil’s interior insanity and cruelty lurk in the slow rhythms of daily life Although the sparse dialogue and gradual build requires an investment on the part of the audience in particular the arresting black and white cinematography and the intriguing The quality of the filmmaking should ensure interest both from festivals and specialist arthouse distributors Antonio (Adriano Carvalho) has found himself with a caravan of slaves and burdened mules The sound design fills in the spaces left by the minimal dialogue: the bells on the beasts which echo the jangling chains on the men; the percussion of hooves and bare feet in the mud only to discover that she and the child have died during labour Antonio disappears to grieve; shortly afterwards his impoverished brother in law and family arrive to find an absent landlord a babbling granny and a mining estate on the brink of ruin the community of slaves is unsettled by a group of new men who do not speak the same language but whose angry refusal to submit to bondage requires no translation Thomas doesn’t provide subtitles for any of the words spoken by the new slaves It’s a decision which makes sense on one hand but which does rob a key character of a voice Sinuous camerawork picks up on the building tensions within the slave community and the sense of decay within the ruling family: frayed hems and ingrained dirt are evident beneath the trappings of former wealth The generous wide screen photography makes the most of the geological potential of the backdrop – rock formations take on mocking monstrous shapes as the sense of tension mounts – and of the meticulously composed interiors which gathers momentum in the second hour once Antonio has married Beatriz the twelve-year-old niece of his late wife Antonio repeatedly summons the slave Feliciana (Jai Baptista) to his bed lonely days with a flirtation with a boy her own age Feliciana’s son Virgílio (Vinicius dos Anjos) It’s a dynamic which bares some similarities to that of William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth And while it lacks the concentrated venom of Oldroyd’s picture Vazante’s savage climax has a shock value of its own Production company: Dezenove Som e Imagens International sales: Films Boutique contact@filmsboutique.com Florence Pugh takes centre stage for this mighty tussle in a post-Avengers world Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong reunite to tell their own story Pleasingly complex murder mystery opened the Hong Kong International Film Festival Their memories become an act of resistance in Visions du Reel ‘Burning Lights’ winner Jean-Francois Ravagnan’s debut traces the impact of Pateh Sabally’s 2017 death in Venice Hailee Steinfeld and Jack O’Connell co-star in horror rampage with a pointedly political bite Screen International is the essential resource for the international film industry access to the Screen International archive and supplements including Stars of Tomorrow and World of Locations Site powered by Webvision Cloud Daniela Thomas’s “Vazante” is a powerful new film that looks into the history of African slavery in Brazil It opens with a string of men on horseback Scenes show black men linked to one another with ropes and chains around their necks as their bare feet slop through the mud in the rain remote Diamantina mountains with their sharp peaks looming beneath the clouds in the background was inspired by a pageant she had helped prepare when the Olympic Games played in Rio which celebrated Brazil’s history and cultural identity A powerful sequence in the spectacle featured actors dressed as African slaves pushing plows and shuffling on shackled feet as they gradually mixed in with indigenous Brazilians The film is the story of Antonio (Adriano Carvalho) He is the master of a compound of barracks for the slaves and he lives in quarters with a few other employees and his own family his wife’s brother’s spouse and their young daughter Beatriz (Luana Nastas) The compound is built around a diamond mine with the help of professional advice he has received to expand a business based on cattle and farming The audience watches a tragic juxtaposition as Antonio shops for garments for his expected child unaware that his wife has died in childbirth "Vazante" is a story of a young man tossed by fate into a pit of loneliness His wife’s brother and his spouse leave for the city because she cannot stand the isolation he orders his in-laws to allow him to marry Beatriz though she has not yet reached the age at which she can conceive The film serves as a statement about the treatment of women throughout Brazil’s history their status barely superior to that of a slave Women did not have the freedom to make their own choices With the principal white characters reduced to a few “Vazante” is also a film about the history of blacks in Brazil Africans sold into slavery in South America brought a culture and language that clashed with the culture already present in countries like Brazil The film’s plot moves slowly and the dialogue is sparse The film does not include English subtitles when the African actors speak thus illustrating Antonio’s alienation from his own workforce a choice that adds to the tension of the film Thomas illustrates the conflicts each character faces by focusing silently on many faces who are now sleeping together as husband and wife Meanwhile Beatriz has reached out to a young man her age among the slaves for comfort “Vazante” goes from a film that has moved slowly to one moving quickly ending violently and with the sound of a painful scream It is a moving look into the history of the complex relationship between race Password reset instructions will be sent to your registered email address As a frequent reader of our website, you know how important America’s voice is in the conversation about the church and the world. We can't do it without you—America Media relies on generous support from our readers. Please visit our membership page to learn how you can invest in our work by subscribing to the magazine or making a donation If you’re already a subscriber or donor, thank you! If you login and register your print subscription number with your account, you’ll have unlimited access to the website. Please contact us at members@americamedia.org with any questions Ryan Reynolds Developing ‘Deadpool’ Team-Up Movie At Marvel Featuring ‘X-Men’ Members, Is It ‘X-Force’? ‘Salvable’ Review: Toby Kebbell & Shia LaBeouf Can’t Help This Boxing Drama To Feel Original ‘Electra’ ‘Review: Maria Bakalova, Daryl Wein Star In A Genre-Confused Romp With Little To Say ‘Sally’ Trailer: Acclaimed Sundance Doc About Trailblazing First Woman To Blast Into Space [Ned] ‘Poker Face’ Season 2 Review: Natasha Lyonne’s Detective Series Takes Big Swings With Absurdist Mysteries 16 Must-See Films To Watch In May: ‘Thunderbolts*,’ ‘Phoenician Scheme,’ ‘Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning’ & More 10 Must-Watch TV Shows In May: ‘Poker Face,’ ‘Dept. Q,’ ‘Murderbot’ & More ‘Thunderbolts*’ Review: Marvel’s Shamed Misfits Defeat Self-Doubt & Find Their Heroic Purpose ‘Andor’ Season 2: Tony Gilroy Talks Emotional Consequences, Expanding Rebellion & Why He’s Done With ‘Star Wars’ [The Rogue Ones Podcast] ‘The Pitt’ Review: Max’s Engrossing Medical Drama Is ‘ER’ Meets ‘24’ With A Little ‘Industry’ ‘The Gilded Age’ Trailer: Love Conquers All or Costs Everything In Season 3 ‘Shogun,’ ‘Baby Reindeer,’ ‘Fantasmas’ Top 2025 Peabody Awards Winners Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo Will Start The ‘Wicked For Good’ Promo Campaign On ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’ ‘Havoc’: Gareth Evans Talks Tom Hardy, Virtual Cameras, Christmas Violence & The Possibility Of ‘The Raid 3’ [The Discourse Podcast] Patti LuPone Revisits An Emotional ‘Agatha All Along’ Journey And, Yes, She Really Does Love The New ‘Sunset Boulevard’ Exclusive: Lydia B. Kollins On Her “Automatic Yes” To ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’ ‘Havoc’ Review: Tom Hardy & Director Gareth Evans Deliver Maximum Sicko Mode Chaos In Slight, But Entertaining Cop Thriller ‘MobLand’: Tom Hardy On Shakespearean Gangsters, ‘Havoc,’ & Why The Spider-Man/Venom Team-Up Never Happened [Bingeworthy Podcast] ‘Everything’s Going To Be Great’ Trailer: Bryan Cranston & Allison Janney Star In A Show Business Dramedy Premiering At Tribeca ‘Bono: Stories of Surrender’ Trailer: U2’s Bono Gets The Spotlight In New Andrew Dominick-Directed Doc Tony Awards 2025: George Clooney, Cole Escola, Sarah Snook, Nicole Scherzinger, Sadie Sink Land Nominations ‘Adolescence,’ ‘The Pitt’ & ‘Dying For Sex’ Top 2025 Gotham Television Awards Nominations Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong, Alba Rohrwacher Join 2025 Cannes Film Festival Jury Daniela Thomas‘ solo directorial debut is a spare solemn drama filmed in black-and-white long takes that allow audiences to dwell in her characters’ plights with them “Vazante” (“The Surge“) explores the roles that gender and race played in the colonial era in the South American country with only the ruling white men having real power and agency After the death of his first wife Naninha (Dinah Feldman) in childbirth Antonio (Adriano Carvalho) takes her young niece as his next wife at the encouragement of her indebted family that she hasn’t even had her first period when they initially wed Antonio’s work as a slave trader takes him away from his farm and new bride shortly after their marriage begins leaving her alone with his own slaves and her mother-in-law (Juliana Carneiro da Cunha) A hierarchy exists on the property and among his property with Jeremias (Fabrício Boliveira) reigning over his fellow slaves and threatening to break the strong-willed Beatriz finds the sole solace in her isolation through kinship with another teenager but his status as a black slave complicates the perception of their connection Like Chantal Akerman‘s “Jeanne Dielman 1080 Bruxelles,” “Vazante” fully immerses the audience in the monotony and boredom of Beatriz’s life moving at the speed of that century’s horses and foot traffic rather than our own’s gasoline-fueled tempo Thomas’ historical drama isn’t driven by plot it is focused on the feelings of loneliness and desire this Brazilian film is firmly grounded in reality – particularly in its depiction of the details of farming and the horrors of slavery – but it somehow also has the air of a fairy tale his mother (Jai Baptista) and Antonio are more than simply their characters They’re archetypes that also point toward the larger social stratification in 19th-century Brazil and the implications for women and black men but they still feature nuance and shape in their details Carvalho’s mournful eyes add depth to a role that might have been simply monstrous in another movie Nastas doesn’t have to work to communicate Beatriz’s youth but the quiet performance brings us into her solitude and then her awakening as she grows closer to Dos Anjos’ devoted Virgílio Thomas previously teamed with other directors most notably Walter Salles on “Linha de Passe,” “Midnight” and “Foreign Land,” but “Vazante” marks her first time behind the camera alone “Vazante” is presented in 2.39:1 with that extra bit of real estate giving scale and scope in the wide shots from cinematographer Inti Briones so our aural focus is on the sound of birds’ songs the patters of rain and the sparse dialogue With the deliberate pacing and spare approach some audiences may find “Vazante” and its austerity a taxing experience we’re drawn into both their worlds for the remainder of the movie The film’s final shot leaves each character as well as the audience in agony tragic result of the choices made throughout the film The Playlist is a leading film and television website critical takes and more for the film community at large from moviegoers to entertainment industry players to the modern-day binge-happy viewer Growing in reach over the last eight years in all forms of destination traffic and social media our loyal audience looks to The Playlist as an ahead-of-the-curve tastemaker for celebrating both contemporary and new cinematic voices Contact us: [email protected] © Copyright - ThePlaylist.net All Rights Reserved It looks like nothing was found at this location this starkly poetic study in black-and-white—in both senses—takes us back to the heyday of Brazilian slavery which lasted until 1888 and was responsible for bringing a little less than half of African slaves to the Western Hemisphere who devised the most political part of the opening to Rio’s Olympic Games last year takes us back to 1821 for a fever dream of a tale in which shackled Africans who speak no Portuguese must figure out how to survive especially when “working” for a brooding colonizer (Portugal’s Adriano Carvalho) who has almost as little interest in farming as he has in them When the man marries the preteen daughter of some distant relatives the tale finds parallels between gender and race—but in a manner that’s compellingly trancelike It's like a kaleidoscope but without the little glittery bits at the.. Your hair was short-cropped and dyed orange We're sorry but the page you're looking for is not on our website and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Canadian Mining Journal provides information on new Canadian mining and exploration trends corporate developments and industry events The piranha-eaterMarcelo KrauseUnderwater Worlds You need technical skill and an understanding of aquatic ecosystems to create a winning image Most rivers in Brazil's Pantanal have zero visibility and so photographing yacare caiman under water isn't easy photographing anything under water is difficult When Marcelo entered the Vazante do Castelo river probably attracted by all the movement and finding plenty of piranhas to eat 'This huge one warned me off by opening its mouth,' says Marcelo 'Then some of them started to bite my camera housing - time to get back in the boat.' Discover the incredible stories of life on our planet through powerful photography and expert insight spread awareness of important issues and nurture a global love for nature investigating siliciclastic source rocks for base metals in the Proterozoic sediment-hosted zinc-lead Vazante mining district Dan Layton-Matthews in collaboration with Votorantim Metais diversified Brazilian mining company that is among the world’s largest zinc producers The question of source rocks for metals in sediment-hosted ore districts is only just beginning to be tackled in mineral deposit studies while it is a well-established practice in the petroleum industry The obvious applicability of this research is to understanding large-scale base metal mobility in basinal ore systems such as SEDEX and ultimately will aid in developing new models for effective exploration (Honours) at the University of Toronto in Geology and Chemistry in 2008 Following which I spent time working in Mexico exploring for intermediate-sulphidation Au-Ag deposits and working for a drilling company in the Middle East at the University of Alberta in 2009 studying SEDEX deposits in the Selwyn Basin I worked for in exploration for Barrick Gold in South America based out of Chile from 2011 till 2014. I spent two years exploring for Au-rich porphyry and epithermal systems in the Maricunga Belt in the high Chilean Andes working at altitudes up to 6,000 m above sea level (see second picture!) and a final stint working in new exploration opportunities all over the South American region Some people like to separate their lives in to when they were a student and when they started working I will always live in both worlds and that is part of my success choosing to take on the challenge of doctoral studies was a process of self-understanding for me You always have to do something for the right reasons The notion of deciphering the answer to a question that nobody has solved before applicable new techniques is what drives me I wish to become an expert in sediment-hosted ore deposit systems and the chance to work on a prolific zinc-producing district in Brazil was a no-brainer Layton Matthews (SEDEX and VMS) have very strong backgrounds working in sediment-hosted ore deposits they both give me great supervision while at the same time the analytical facilities at QFIR are world-class the chance to interact with some of the incredible sedimentology and geochemistry faculty (Drs Dalrymple) on a regular basis and learn from them as well This shapes my development as a sedimentary geochemist further every chance I get to interact with them Student involvement/extracurricular activities I am involved with: I am part of the 3-member team that coordinates the weekly geo-colloquium talks at the department I love giving graduate students the chance to present their research and practice their presentation skills in front of a friendly audience at the end of a week I also handle beverage distribution for these gatherings I am currently vice-president of the Queen’s SEG student chapter We are focused on exposing our students (grads and undergrads) to all facets of economic geology: from fieldtrips to Sudbury to deep discussions about the future of mining and mineral exploration relating to social responsibility I am also on the global student committee for the SEG and will be taking up the position of committee chair in January I hope to use this platform to better connect the SEG with its student members all over the world In so many ways: From being the hardest-working person I’ve ever known to always encouraging me to pursue my goals and dreams it was she who suggested I try geology out in the first place so every single mentor I’ve got (and there are a lot!) is a result of her I plan to: I plan to see what the situation is when I get there There are many things on my horizon and in my mind but I’ll have a better idea when I am closer to finishing One big goal I’d like to accomplish during my lifetime: I have two 1 wonderful world and the rocks in it as is possible Tel: 613-533-2597 Web Privacy Queen’s University is situated on the territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek Mon 6 Nov 2017 at 03:30Fiona Clark was born in Ecuador and started a children's theatre company when she left Bristol University and then joined the Bristol Old Vic Theatre She joined the Bush Theatre in London as executive producer in 1999 she made a big change and joined the Earthrace Project successfully breaking the world record in 2008 for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe in a powerboat - which was run on biodiesel green technology and was carbon neutral - in 60 days before moving to Ireland to take up a new development role at the Irish Film Institute and they moved to beautiful Ballycotton six years ago a year ago has enabled Fiona to bring all aspects of her life together; to live in and contribute to the community that is now her adopted home Cork Film Festival opens on November 10 so my head is well and truly full of films I have a broad taste but a film that's been on my mind since we first saw it in Berlin in February is a fascinating and original debut feature provocative period piece that directly resonates with current issues of class reinventing himself as a fine cabinet-maker after 25 years working for Shell He always maintained that his furniture needed to be practical as well as beautiful and that the design would emerge from the specific piece of wood he selected a complicated and mathematically calculated series of crossover table leg joints but I know how complicated the geometry of it is I have a coffee table and a matching side table I recently (reluctantly) embraced the Kindle instead of lugging hardbacks around in my bag I have hundreds and will never get rid of any - they are my friends an unputdownable character-driven tale set in Moscow at the start of the Revolution Sailing By by Ronald Binge is the music played every night on BBC Radio 4 just before the late Shipping Forecast I associate it with the excitement of coming over to Ireland from London when we first bought our house and couldn't wait to get to Ballycotton I'm completely addicted to television drama I was totally absorbed by The Handmaid's Tale (above) based on the equally excellent novel by Margaret Atwood from Mad Men to Palme d'Or-winning film The Square The 62nd Cork Film Festival takes place from November 10-19 Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel