Brazilian director Rene Sampaio has delivered a gritty and stylish gangster movie set in Brazil. He has combined a western undertone, which is why this film is called 'Brazilian Western'. Rolling Stone Magazine says this film is a lot like 'Romeo and Juliet'. While you may see that poetic tragedy between two people here, the film plays out a bit like 'Scarface' as well. There isn't really anything new or fresh with this story, as I'm sure you've all seen or heard this before, but it's how Sampaio tells us this story and Fabricio Boliveira's performance that really makes this film worth watching.
The film takes place some twenty years ago or so when Brazil's political and social climate where on the verge of major change. The drug trade and corrupt cops were in the spotlight, which is where we meet a young Joao (Boliveira), who is seen killing an officer of the law. Through flashbacks, we see why this took place, and how times have changed as Joao has gotten older.
Due to his skin color and poor upbringing, it didn't seem like Joao had much of a choice in what he was destined to do. It was either make furniture for low wages or get involved in the drug trade. Joao decided to do both, but when he meets a beautiful young woman named Maria Lucia (Isis Valverde), the daughter of a wealthy and powerful senator, Joao changes his mind to become straight laced.
But, a rival drug lord named Jeremias (Felipe Abib) has diabolical plans for Joao, even though he's out of the drug game, which forces Joao back into a life of violence and drugs, with nobody looking out for him. Part of this movie are difficult to watch, due to the gory violent scenes that take place with certain characters, but it never seems gratuitous.
Besides telling a tragic yet great story, Sampaio wanted to show what the political and social issues were in this particular part of the world where skin color mattered at this point in time. You can't just help but feel sorry for the characters here, because Boliveira gives us an excellent performance with Joao as he struggles to always do the right thing, but never catches a break. As the walls come tumbling down on him, we soon figure out there is no escape for him, which Sampaio plays out in true, typical western fashion.
The film takes place some twenty years ago or so when Brazil's political and social climate where on the verge of major change. The drug trade and corrupt cops were in the spotlight, which is where we meet a young Joao (Boliveira), who is seen killing an officer of the law. Through flashbacks, we see why this took place, and how times have changed as Joao has gotten older.
Due to his skin color and poor upbringing, it didn't seem like Joao had much of a choice in what he was destined to do. It was either make furniture for low wages or get involved in the drug trade. Joao decided to do both, but when he meets a beautiful young woman named Maria Lucia (Isis Valverde), the daughter of a wealthy and powerful senator, Joao changes his mind to become straight laced.
But, a rival drug lord named Jeremias (Felipe Abib) has diabolical plans for Joao, even though he's out of the drug game, which forces Joao back into a life of violence and drugs, with nobody looking out for him. Part of this movie are difficult to watch, due to the gory violent scenes that take place with certain characters, but it never seems gratuitous.
Besides telling a tragic yet great story, Sampaio wanted to show what the political and social issues were in this particular part of the world where skin color mattered at this point in time. You can't just help but feel sorry for the characters here, because Boliveira gives us an excellent performance with Joao as he struggles to always do the right thing, but never catches a break. As the walls come tumbling down on him, we soon figure out there is no escape for him, which Sampaio plays out in true, typical western fashion.
