At the age of 85, with almost half a century devoted to producing work poetic in the extreme, of visual wealth, Bahia composer Dorival Caymmi takes us deep into his world and his story, moving onward through his creative process and the themes that inspire him - love, common man, women - different facets of talent as composer, painter and, surprisingly, as an actor.

     A boy who will let aside day-to-day play to be swept away by the sound of Elégie by Jules Massenet, will be our guide through facts and documents. In 1937, he goes to Rio de Janeiro and, almost by chance, finds himself at Rádio Nacional and the start of a career. The first success came two years later with O que é que a Baiana tem?, sung by Carmen Miranda. With his voice and his guitar, he brought life to song - typical of the beaches along the coast, of folklore, mischievous, syncopated, swaying.

     Caymmi was acknowledged in Brazil and abroad and, in 1969, produced a show in partnership with Andy Williams. As an actor, he performed in two films: Estrela da Manhã directed by Jonald de Oliveira, in 1948, and Sand Pit Generals, by Hal Bartlet, 1969. In later years, he practically gave up music for painting. Periodically, yet another legacy: his son Dori Caymmi, performing his father's compositions that relate to the sea.