Brazil’s national cinema has plenty to offer to its viewers, but few choose brazilian movies. A balance made by Ancine (Brazilian Film Agency) shows that 881 national movies were produced since 2012, but only 438 reached the average of three-thousand sold tickets. Below there are some worth-watching brazilian movies.
1. O Doutrinador (The Awakener)
Image Source: IMDB
The Awakener is a 2018 action movie that follows the story of a cop who, after suffering a big loss, becomes disappointed with the system and starts making “justice with his own hands”, attacking corrupt politicians that are still in charge of our country. The adaptation won theaters in September, next to the presidential elections in Brazil, not by chance. The government’s power dynamics, usually hidden behind the scenes, are out in the open and they show just how sordid it can be. Based on the homonymous HQ by the author Luciano Cunha, it was the first major production of the type in the Brazilian film market.
Miguel, the avenger, interpreted by Kiko Pissolato, counts with the help of Nina, brought to life by Tainá Medina, who plays the part of a tech guru, a very present role in stories with heroes, she guides him, with the help of technology, preventing him from being discovered.
The movie promotes the big questioning: is fighting for justice through blood the best way of doing so? But for some that’s the only way.
2. Amor.com (Love.com)
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Love.com is a cute and light romantic comedy, in which we get to know the trajectory of a unexpected couple lived by Isis Valverde and Gil Coelho. She’s Katrina, a famous fashion blogger that has her entire life shared and exposed on social medias. He’s Fernando, a typical nerd that spends more time playing video games and talking about them on his channel rather than going out.
They meet after Katrina suffers a disappointment in love, with a very sexist guy by the way, and after getting Fernando’s help she realizes that the “nerd” is completely different than the other men she normally goes for and decides to give it a chance.
Their worlds are very much unlike each others and that affects the couple’s dynamic, although there’s love, someone has to give in. It’s a couple that wins the crowd right from the start. The collision between the two parallel universes promotes a small reflexion about how much we expose our lives on social media and how that can affect us.
3. California
Image Source: IMDB
With a massive and important political movement – “Diretas Já” – happening in Brazil on the background, Estela, brought to life by actress Clara Gallo, suffers every anguish that comes with the beginning of teenagehood. But to survive this particularly complicated moment, she counts with her uncle and best friend Carlos, interpreted by Caio Blat, who she talks with through letters and tapings because he lives in California.
The movie starts with Estela going through her first period and replacing her fifthteenth birthday party for the long-awaited trip to the West Coast of the United States, but that can only happen when the girl turns seventeen. When the trip gets closer, something disrupts the plans: Carlos comes back to Brazil unexpectedly.
The AIDS virus, something that was a big taboo in the 1980s, is present on the film, but it doesn’t take the lead. It’s an adversity that, unfortunately, affects one of the characters and makes the viewers relate, feel emotional and/or think about the subject. However, the protagonist is the friendship between uncle and niece, which is portrayed in a beautiful manner.
4. As Boas Maneiras (Good Manners)
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In our memories there are few horror or suspense brazilian movies that resist, Good Manners is a good representant of these genres. The movie has a slow rhythm that makes you bite your nails from the tension, accompanied by some musical scenes that can destroy the thematic a bit.
The first part of the film follows Ana (Marjorie Estiano) during her pregnancy. Alone in São Paulo she searches for a housekeeper to help her, and just like that, Clara (Isabél Zuaa) comes into her life.
Ana’s gestation has some peculiarities, no one knows who is the father of the baby, or why she walks around the house on nights where there is a full-moon looking for meat, even though the consumption has been prohibited by her doctor. In the middle of all this mystery, a romance between the housekeeper and the boss is born.
On the second part of the movie we get to see the kid, Ana’s biological son, dealing with the adversities of his birth. With a few moments of tension and blood, this 2017 work is a good option for those who like terror.
5. Desenrola (Untangle)
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Comedies that happen in high school and show all the drama that goes on at that phase are necessarily incredible, and the Brazilian film industry doesn’t let us down on this regard either.
Untangle, from 2011, has the young Priscila as the main character. Interpreted by Olívia Torres, she wants to lose her virginity at any cost during her mother’s absence, and uses a misunderstanding to do that with the typical “prettiest guy in school”, brought to life by Kayky Brito, in a beach trip. But losing your virginity may not be everything people say, and Kayky’s character may not be the partner that Priscila deserves.
A light movie, a couple to cheer for, cute scenes involving songs and love declarations, plus Pedro Bial as a part of the cast? This movie doesn’t lose in anything for US high school romances.
Hope you have enjoyed our selection and watch each movie.