Director: Joel Zito Araújo
Writers: Joel Zito Araújo, Di Moretti
Actors: Taís Araújo, Jonas Bloch, Zózimo Bulbul, Ruth de Souza, Milton Gonçalves, Léa Garcia
Production Co.: Paris Film, Petrobras
Country: Brazil
Year: 2004
Language: In Portuguese; optional subtitles in English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish.
Format: DVD
[ratings]
Summary: “In a small town in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, two sisters meet again after years apart. One of them headed for the big city, trying to secure a career as an actress. The other stayed to look after their father”–IMDb plot outline.
I personally found this movie very confusing and disjointed. It was very hard to distinguish between the two sisters and the film didn’t spend enough time developing each character. Additionally, I found that a lot of scenes seemed extremely unnecessary with regards to the main plot line. I also felt like the acting was unrealistic and fake. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this film as a favorite.
I found this movie to be ok at best. With a classic story line of people fighting and then reconciling towards the end, I found the movie to be very predictable. I did however like the fact that the movie stressed the importance of family and how at the end of the day they are the people who are there for you no matter what.
I liked the how the beginning of the film was tied to the end, like one big circle. Many parts about this movie are circular, like how there are two sisters/cousins each wanting opposite lifestyles. However, it was a bit confusing because at first I couldn’t tell which person was which. I’m happy that the sisters made up in the end, even if it took 40 years and the death of their father.
I was really confused at first because the beginning went by very quickly. However, I kind of enjoyed the film because it showed family dynamics and relationships. It was interesting to see two sisters be torn apart because of a lie and never reconcile until the death of their father. It was also interesting to see their daughters be so different from them. Some scenes were very boring and did not tie into them film’s short plot. Overall, although the ending was very sweet, I find that most people will not thoroughly enjoy this film.
I enjoyed how the film examined the inter workings of a complicated family, especially one with predominately female members. That being said, the film was confusing and the end seemed inconclusive. One moment the two sisters, the main characters of the film, are fighting and hate each other, and the next moment they are completely fine. The film should have spent more time developing the characters.
Though I would agree with the previous comments–that the movie was initially confusing and disjointed and that there could be better character development–I enjoyed the themes that came through at the heart of the movie, such as the importance of family and the bond between sisters. Even though the lives of the two main characters and sisters in the film took radically different paths, both were ways of best coping with the life that they had been handed, and in the end I enjoyed the message that the most important thing in life are the people that are important to you.
I agree with the comments before on how the character development was lacking and there were many elements that had nothing to do with the plot; however, when you get past some of the confusing parts, the moral of death being the great equalizer is well presented in the film. Although the two sisters may have fought for a prolonged period of time, the death of someone with such a vital place in their hearts makes them rethink what is important. This is a concept that I think is well connected to the world.
I found this movie to be very predictable and therefore uninteresting. The underlying themes are relevant but the execution by the writers and director was lacking. The themes, such as the interplay between independence and the role of the family were interesting in retrospect. Using the sisters to depict this theme and then carrying the theme on to the next generation had potential to create a much more interesting plot.
The characters in this film were not very complex. They demonstrated very basic stereotypes that are present in media outlets that represent afro brazilian culture. The film moved slowly and did not really have many shocking or moving moments. Good for listening practice but not a very good film in my opinion.
I recommend this film if you are interested in a glimpse of rural life and expectations of afro-brazilians. Though the film wasn’t well executed it had its messages. The film had messages about disparity in job opportunities, the consequences of affairs, bias within the family etc. It’s short, wont lose much time watching it and it’s easy to follow.
I want to like this film, but I found it cloying. The opening scene in the funeral, with the congregation singing, was incredibly moving. So why the abrupt turn into sentimental movie music when the long-lost sister and daughters entered the church? For me, that was the first signal of problems with this film. The ending was extremely sentimental and I did not find the characters or their interactions to be authentically complex. That said, beautiful scenery – now I want to visit Minas Gerais!