There is a curious link between the planet Arrakis, the setting of the science fiction Dune, and the city of Araras, located in the interior of the state of São Paulo.
About Arrakis
Arrakis is the central planet of the Dune saga, a work of science fiction written by Frank Herbert. This planet has a desert environment, is inhabited by enormous sand worms, and is recognized as the most crucial point in the narrative universe, as it is the only producer of the valuable spice.
The cinematic representation of Arrakis was done by Denis Villeneuve in 2021 and 2024. However, it was not the first time Arrakis appeared on screen; there was also a lesser-known adaptation of the book Dune, dated 1984 and directed by David Lynch.
David Lynch and his visit to Brazil
The American director David Lynch gave an ethereal tone to the Dune universe. Lynch was a proponent of transcendental meditation, which he considered a source of creativity. In 2008, he was in Brazil, visiting several cities to promote his book on the subject. During one of these trips, he attended the Rio de Janeiro Commercial Association, where he participated in an event alongside Carlos Alberto Parreira.
Carlos Alberto Parreira and Roberto Carlos
In a video recording from that time, Lynch was seen next to the former coach of the Brazilian National Team, Carlos Alberto Parreira, while a Flamengo game was playing on a large screen in the background. Parreira coached the Brazilian national team during two distinct periods: from 1991 to 1994 and again from 2003 to 2006. During this period, Roberto Carlos played as a left-back for the team.
Roberto Carlos was classified by FIFA as the second-best player in the world in both 1997 and 2002. The year 2002 was also the year Brazil won the five-time World Cup title. His trajectory in football began at age 16 at União São João, a club based in the city of Araras.
Araras: The celestial connection
Araras is a municipality located in the interior of São Paulo, with a population of 130 thousand inhabitants and 170 kilometers from the capital. On clear nights, residents of Araras can observe the star Canopus, which, within the context of the Dune universe, corresponds to the sun of the planet Arrakis.