To the best of my knowledge, there are no spoilers in this review, as it does not delve into a discussion of the actual plot.
This is the third feature from Portuguese director Pedro Costa, and a major turn from his previous work. It is set in the Fontainhas district of Lisbon, a slum filled with migrants and the working poor. When he visited this area, Costa was captivated by its sounds, its buildings and its people. The film does have a minimalist plot but focuses more on the atmosphere of Fontainhas as its theme. The cinematography is truly unique and beautiful and uses many long takes. The camera spends much of the running time riveted to the faces of these characters. They remain enigmas, somewhat distant from the viewer, yet the mystery is captivating. Ossos, which means "Bones" in Portuguese, is a film for adventurous viewers who are willing to forgo the typical features of dramatic plot and quick editing. Fans of the work of Robert Bresson may find similarities between his sensibilities and those of Costa in this film.
This is the third feature from Portuguese director Pedro Costa, and a major turn from his previous work. It is set in the Fontainhas district of Lisbon, a slum filled with migrants and the working poor. When he visited this area, Costa was captivated by its sounds, its buildings and its people. The film does have a minimalist plot but focuses more on the atmosphere of Fontainhas as its theme. The cinematography is truly unique and beautiful and uses many long takes. The camera spends much of the running time riveted to the faces of these characters. They remain enigmas, somewhat distant from the viewer, yet the mystery is captivating. Ossos, which means "Bones" in Portuguese, is a film for adventurous viewers who are willing to forgo the typical features of dramatic plot and quick editing. Fans of the work of Robert Bresson may find similarities between his sensibilities and those of Costa in this film.