Director(s): Carla Camurati
Writer(s): Carla Camurati, Melanie Dimantas
Actor(s): Marieta Severo, Marco Nanini, Ludmila Dayer, Brent Hieatt, Maria Fernanda, Marcos Palmeira, Eliana Fonseca
Production Co.: Europa Filmes
Country: Brazil
Year: 1995
Language and subtitle information: In Portuguese with optional subtitles in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French
Format: DVD
[ratings]
Summary: A tempestuous Brazilian princess plots to conquer her enemies and become queen of Portugal.
Supplemental Materials:
This film tells a version of Brazilian history during the Portuguese reign, a period which ultimately led to Brazilian independence. The story told is based on true historic events and people but it becomes clear soon in that much of it is vastly exaggerated. The Spaniards are stereotyped a certain way, as are the Portuguese and the native Brazilians. Many of the main characters’ personality traits, such as João’s laziness and lack of intelligence and Carlota’s drive for sex and general cruelness towards others especially any native Brazilians with whom she’s not having sex, are exaggerated so much that the story at large was at times hard to relate to and follow. I also never quite understood why the whole time it would weave in an out of the present where an older boy was telling a little girl this history lesson, and who these two were and what their background was. Overall, I thought the film shared some helpful points and furthered my understanding of Brazilian history a bit, but on the whole I found myself too distracted by the other perhaps overdone aspects to really get a lot out of it.
This film, which is telling the story of Carlota Joaquina, is perhaps a bit overdone with dramatics. Because of these dramatics it is difficult to follow the history and differentiate between what is actual history and what is false. All in all, it is a film to watch for entertainment purposes but not to learn historic facts.
Carlota Joaquina, though a bit exaggerated and satirical of particular cultures or characters in history, more than adequately describes the progress of Brazil, from colonization to its independence. The film mostly utilizes a lighthearted approach and generous dramatization, making the historical instances portrayed seem a little ridiculous at times, but allowing for some good laughs.
Carlota Joaquina, funny, overdramatic, yet very insightful. This film helps tell a version of the process towards the Brazilian independence in relation to the plight of Portugal during the 1500’s. An exciting film that follows the exciting life of Carlota who plots to become the Queen of Portugal.