Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures (2005) User Reviews

A Simple and Pleasant Tale of Friendship

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 30 June 2007]

In 1942, the lonely German Johann (Peter Ketnath) travels through the arid roads in the country of the Northeast of Brazil in his truck selling aspirins in small villages, using advertisement movies to promote the medicine. He meets the drifter Ranulpho (João Miguel), who intends to go to Rio de Janeiro seeking a better life, and gives a ride to the man. While traveling together, they develop a close friendship, but on 31 August 1942, Brazil declares war to Germany and Johann has to decide if he should return to his home country and fight in the war, or stay in Brazil in a concentration camp; but the option of moving to Amazonas with the migrants of the drought seems to be feasible.

"Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus" is a simple, realistic and pleasant tale of friendship. This road-movie has a story based on the performances of Peter Ketnath and mainly of João Miguel, whose character has some excellent lines, associated to a sharp screenplay and precise direction. I love Brazilian movies, but the indication of this good movie to a nomination to the Oscar seems much exaggerated to me. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus" ("Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures")

Marcelo Gomes promises us

[bob998 · 7/10 · 21 August 2006]

The road movie is such a hallowed genre; I always think of Easy Rider, Harry and Tonto, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Thelma and Louise, and many more. You can escape from something, or go toward something, and I think Ranulpho and Johann are doing both. Ranulpho is the grouchy, sensual Sancho Panza to Johann's cool, resourceful Quixote; they work very well together--excellent casting.

If the story is less than gripping (we don't feel the tension surrounding Johann's status as an enemy alien, and the war seems comically far away, despite the radio broadcasts), the direction is often very accomplished, and the locales are brought to life with great care. I want to see what Gomes can do in the future.

Great hidden gem on evolution and friendship

[rbferre · 8/10 · 7 January 2012]

Although I am not a big fan of movies that have as a background an arid scenery, this was actually a very good surprise due to the excellent work of the director/writer.

It moves away from the tendency on focusing too much on the adversities of the region and the poverty. It prefers to have a look at the interaction between the two main characters and the people who cross their way. It does that not only through good dialogs, but especially through the body language, taking the spectator through a road trip in the eyes of the characters. A great example is when they give a ride to a lonely woman and how they react in the truck - it seems like the world has changed for them in those minutes.

Excellent acting, especially by the actor playing Ranulpho. The movie surprised me due to the fact it denies the stereotypes: the German guy is smooth while the Brazilian guy is grumpy; the well educated woman is the unfaithful one and her husband does not react with the violence the big landlords of the region are known for. The directing is surprisingly delicate/careful in such harsh scenery. Both characters offer us a look at their souls through the way they react to the different people they meet on their road trip, and show us how a change is possible, no matter how tough the situation is, in war or peace, with or without culture, with or without resources. All in the search of a better life.

Some people may find this movie too slow, but I think it is a hidden gem that talks about evolution and friendship.

Marcelo Gomes has made his mark in Brazilian movie industry.

[loildo-1 · 9/10 · 22 November 2005]

Movie industry in Brazil has gone through many different phases and in all of them the northeast of the country has been a great source for film productions due to its social, cultural and natural conditions. So, throughout Brazilian movie industry, these northeast movies have been over-exposed. Avoiding clichés and stereotypes is not an easy task; and that is what Marcelo Gomes did quite successfully on his debut. The story itself is not that attractive, but the subtle way by which Marcelo conducts the scenes leads us to think of humanistic matters without committing the common mistake in the movie industry of giving us answers. There is a sensible balance: The grouchy and restless Ranulpho reminds us of the plight Brazilians from that region face and the absurdity of living in that condition; The smooth and adventurous Johann reiterates the adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that despite the circumstances life should be lived. It sounds dumb when put into words, but images don not speak, they imply, and the characters are busy enough living, they don't philosophize to come to the conclusions for you. It is all an undeniable achievement for Brazilian movie industry.

For Your Consideration

[faornelas · 9/10 · 16 November 2006]

"Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus" is Brazil's official entry for the 2007 Academy Awards Foreign Language Film competition.

It will probably not win, for it is too arty for the Oscars taste (it won a special prize at the Cannes Film Festival), but it definitely deserves a nomination.

Beyond its apparent simplicity, you will discover an overwhelming tale of friendship, with very decent performances (specially by João Miguel) and exquisite cinematography.

A must see for everyone who appreciates good cinema!

P.s: I also recommend another new Brazilian gem - O Ano em Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias (2006)

Interesting premise, but not nearly enough material to sustain an entire film

[Camera-Obscura · 5 July 2006]

MOVIES, ASPIRIN AND VULTURES (Marcelo Gomes - Brazil 2005)

The film has the potentially great pretext of a young German trying to sell the recently discovered aspirin in the Northeast of Brazil during World War II, molded in a kind of road-movie. The discovery of aspirin is one of those little forgotten things in history. Sadly, the result is only mildly interesting and certainly not a great film.

Not much is done with the potentially funny pretext; A German traveling through northeastern Brazil in 1942 is something different, either for Brazilians back then, or contemporary Brazilians, or any audience around the world. Nobody seems to bother. And many of the scenes where he tries to sell aspirin with the help of a promo film (he brought a film projector) about headaches and the curing qualities of the product, could have been funny or touching, but it's executed in quite a lacklustre way. A real shame. Secondly, the cinematography. They shot on location in North-East Brazil, but the interesting locale is mostly left unused.

Not a bad film perse, it has some interesting moments but it suffers from a lack of inspiration and could have used a little more plot. The rural setting in NE-Brazil is interesting, especially for a European spectator but otherwise not a very engaging film. Messy, uninspired and a lack of ideas.

Camera Obscura --- 5/10

Beautiful Road Film

[adrianaprsouza-63886 · 7/10 · 17 August 2021]

I don't usually start with cinematography and direction, but the first scene really got me as well as many others in Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus (2005) - Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures. Mauro Pinheiro Jr.'s cinematography, together with Marcelo Gomes (director) smart shots, makes us feel how hot it is in the location but with beauty, a brilliant work. The location is a Brazilian Northeast zone, characterized by a biome called Caatinga, which is very close to deserts, very hot and with lack of rain.

Besides, there is beauty in the dark too. They utilized old lamps, candles, fire pits... Tools from the year the story covers: 1942.

Everybody nailed in making this movie historical accurate. The songs (like the one that is playing in the radio in the first scene), the radio itself and every object in the film, the outfits and the sets.

It's not just a gorgeous movie, it also has a nice story and an entertaining screenplay, it's a well thought out road movie.

It follows the journey of a German that migrates to Brazil before the Second World War and who travels the country selling aspirins. There are good and bad things on his way, in his life, and he experiences things together with a man called Ranulpho. I won't say more about the plot and the screenplay, I just wanna highlight that the relationship between the two is very believable and well done.

This has everything to do with the acting. The chemistry between João Miguel and Peter Ketnath is great and both were perfectly cast to their respective roles. João Miguel (Ranulpho) is very charismatic and add a mystery to his character. Peter Ketnath, who is German, is also charismatic and built a complex character, with a gracious way of speaking Portuguese.

It's a worth watching adventure film that also has important informations on Brazilian history.

A comfortable trip

[wel2005 · 9/10 · 3 November 2005]

It's a Brazilian road-movie. A German guy sell aspirins in 1942, during the Worl War II, running way from battles. He meets a guy and started a friendship. Far from stereotypes, the director Marcelo Gomes is sensitive and treat his character with tenderness and humanity. It's one of the best Brazilian movies of the year and deserves all the praises and prizes from Cannes Film Festival, Rio Film Festival and others. A summary below:

Johann Hohenfels (Peter Ketnath) ekes out a living in rural Brazil selling aspirin through a film show that wins over the locals at any of the remote villages where he chooses to stop. On his travels he picks up Ranulpho (João Miguel) and offers him a job as his assistant. Ranulpho, escaping a desperate drought in his home province, jumps at the chance and soon the pair are making their way through the interior of the country in search of new buyers. Along the way they pick up locals looking for a ride to the next town, bicker, laugh, share stories and slowly disclose information about their past. While the men may appear isolated from civilization, their radio brings news of the war in Europe, a war that Johann has escaped from but which threatens to catch up with him. Marcelo Gomes' assured direction and Mauro Pinheiro's dreamy, bleached photography capture the eerie sleepiness of a landscape where people are few and far between and where an unlikely friendship blossoms between two intrepid travellers trying to make the most of whatever life throws into their path.

simplicity and strengh!!!

[danilo_cesar_florido · 9/10 · 17 December 2006]

The long one counts the history of a northeastern, Ranulfo, running away from dries in the decade of 40. During day, it finds German running away from Second World War I, Johann, that covers the hinterland of Brazil buying aspirins with its truck and showing films for people who did not know nor the electricity, with the objective to help in shop.

Simplicity and strengh!!!! cinema isn't only make with money and technology, creative and good actor can make us reflect about the reality..... in a place that does not have nothing it is learned to have hope and to grow as it shows the film

great part of world cinema

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 13 February 2007]

I just last night saw "Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus" (called "Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures" in English). It's an amazing story of a man who flees Nazi Germany and moves to Brazil, where he shows movies to the inhabitants of a destitute village in the northeast of the country and also gives them aspirin, thereby bringing them a new hope.

I like how the movie not only develops the characters, but also shows world events affecting everyone's lives, as Brazil declares war on Germany and it becomes hard for the man to sell the German-produced aspirin. Looking very amateur, the movie has a particularly realistic feeling; the desert setting might even make you feel like you're sweating as the characters do. But overall, the movie's a wonderful look at life and how we make decisions about our directions. As they say in one scene: "With this, you could sell the Devil a Bible!" All in all, a very good movie.

Lack of important chemistry, lifeless plot and direction

[icefire65 · 2/10 · 27 July 2006]

Watching this is a waste of 99 minutes of my life and my money! first off, the plot is weak and pointless. the direction is slow and unsteady. there are no chemistry between the two leads and i don't feel their 'friendship'.

this movie is not touching nor emotional nor funny. sure its different, but in a weird sense. there's no message delivered from this film and i found my eyes half closed during the whole duration of this lifeless, dead picture.

i guess the response from Brazilian audiences are different to foreign audiences. which is why, i cant believe this movie is rated so high on IMDb.