As part of the PORT 130B course on Brazilian Cinema taught by Dr. Pedro Craveiro, the Center for Portuguese Studies is pleased to announce a guest lecture by Dr. Ester Suassuna Simões from the Department of French and Italian at UC Santa Barbara. The presentation titled "Ariano Suassuna's 'Auto da Compadecida': The art of shared laughter" will explore the renowned play by Ariano Suassuna (1927-2014) and dialogue with the film "O Auto da Compadecida" [A Dog's Will] (2000), directed by Guel Arraes. Ariano Suassuna is one of the most representative playwrights of Brazil, drawing on the rich and popular literature of the northeast region of the country, 'literatura de cordel.'