Fernando Meirelles, currently one of the most highly regarded Brazilian filmmakers, has arrived on the red carpet for the launch of his latest film chauffeured in a Fiat Linea, the new saloon from Fiat Automóveis which is about to be launched in the country.

The Fiat’s forthcoming launching debut at the screens of the main cinemas in Brazil comes even before the car arrives at the dealers. The Linea can be seen in the first sequence of scenes in the movie Blindness, which is directed by Fernando Meirelles, and which is based around the work of the writer José Saramago. Following the glittering première, the film this week makes its début in the Brazilian cinemas.

"The film begins by showing the day-to-day in a city, and the car is part of the person’s life in every city", said Meirelles. He caused astonishment during the lavish ceremony which launched the film, last Tuesday evening (26th August) at the Cine Odeon, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, when he arrived on the red carpet on board of the new car, which ended doing its “avant-première".

The film, which was recorded on location in Brazil, Uruguay and Canada, and it counts Fiat Automóveis as one of its sponsors. "This was an opportunity to anticipate the launching of the car in a work of high artistic quality, for a distinguish public," commented João Ciaco, Director of Advertising and Marketing Relationships for Fiat in Brazil.

The cast is truly A-list, Julianne Moore, who was also present on the red carpet at the film’s debut in Brazil, is joined by Mark Ruffalo, Gael Garcia Bernal and Alice Braga, who is regarded as the new sensation on the Brazilian international cinema scene.

"This is an independent production shared between Brazil, Canada and Japan," emphasised the Director Meirelles. Another highlight of Blindness is the highly acclaimed original music score which was written especially for the film, by Marco Antônio Guimarães. The Fiat Linea sedan, which will be built for Latin American consumption at Fiat Automóveis' factory at Betim in the Minas Gerais region, will be officially launched into the national dealership network during September.