Born in
Rio de Janeiro, Barreto has been making feature-length films ever since he was 17 years old and remains one of Brazil's most accomplished and popular directors to this day. His films vary widely, from light comedies like
Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands (1976) and
Bossa Nova (2000) to tense political thrillers like
Four Days in September (1997).
Four Days in September was entered into the
47th Berlin International Film Festival. His 1973 film
Tati was entered into the
8th Moscow International Film Festival. Other films Barreto has directed films include
Carried Away and
View from the Top. Barreto was married to actress
Amy Irving from 1996 to 2005, with whom he made
Bossa Nova and
Carried Away. They had one son (Gabriel) together born in 1990. He is the ex-stepfather of Max Spielberg, Irving's son by her first husband
Steven Spielberg. ==Controversy==