Ossos (1997) User Reviews

Life in Fontainhas

[juliantheapostate · 9/10 · 16 May 2011]

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.

challenging film

[disdressed12 · 9 May 2010]

this is one unique film form Portuguese director Pedro Costa.it's a film that definitely requires more than one viewing in order to fully understand it.i liked it,but there's no doubt it's challenging.however,that just makes the experience more rewarding once we do comprehend what it is we have witnessed.as for this movie,though i didn't completely grasp the meaning of it all,i did like the look and the atmosphere of it.colours were used to very good effect.dialogue is used very sparingly here,and that works in the film's favour as well.keep in mind going in,this a movie that will challenge you and make you use your mind.if you're not wiling to be engaged mentally,this isn't your film.

Emptiness

[joaosousapires · 1/10 · 10 January 2012]

Before watching this film, and because of what I had been reading about it on the Internet, I thought it was an attempt to capture the feeling of decadence present in the city of Lisbon and its surroundings (if you have been there you know what I mean). But then I saw it. And understood that in a way I was right... it is an attempt, it does not mean that the director was capable of doing so.

The so called "slow movies" or "long shot sequences" cannot, alone, produce a film. "Ossos" seems to be just that, just a bunch of long shots filmed in an extremely slow pace trying to be - by itself - an art-movie. There is here no connection at all between form and content.

The feeling I got from watching this was that anyone could have made the film. No idea was needed, and no money for production I am sure. You just need to film a couple of people staring at the walls, with no script at all, with some shouting in the background.

It is almost impossible to debate this film as it is completely empty as a film. OK, we can discuss the content but as a representation of a piece of reality, leading us the a discussion about something independent from the movie itself. But the film is just that: a big ZERO.