the film, which features an outstanding bossa nova soundtrack composed by well-known brazilian artists luiz bonfá and antónio carlos jobim, is based on the play 'orfeu da conceição' by vinícius de moraes - orpheus (breno mello) is a streetcar conductor and eurydice (marpessa dawn) lives nearby, in fear of a man disguised as death, who she believes is trying to kill her.

although engaged to mira, orpheus falls in love with eurydice and the two find themselves on the run from both mira and death. when tragedy ensues and eurydice is killed, orpheus enters the rio morgue and attempts to revive her body - in portuguese with english subtitles orfeu negro (1959) is a joint brazilian, french and italian production, set in the favela babilônia.