This film touches on many of today's problems here in the US - gentrification, class differences, generational differences, the ugly side of real estate development, the plight of the elderly, the corrupting influence of money in city and federal government and more.
I cannot recommend this film. It was screened at the Palm Springs International Film Festival #PSIFF17 as part of its "Talking Pictures" segment, where audience members engage with the film maker after the film's screening, here Brazilian Kleber Mendonça Filho, one of Variety's 10 Directors to Watch. At the Q&A, Mr. Mendonca Filho was asked about this transition from film critic to film maker. He described the process as similar to being a party to a bar conversation and finally joining in on the conversation because one "now had something to say." In AQUARIUS, I am at a loss of what exactly Mr. Mendonco Filho has had to say with his film in the context of cinema. While Sonia Braga again delivers a strong performance -- and it was great to see her again on the big screen -- I found the film tedious, poorly shot and woefully edited. And for a lover of music as is the director and his film character, the sound editing and mixing on the film was very third-rate. Frankly, shockingly so. A major disappointment, particularly in light of Mr. Scott's review and Variety's endorsement.
As someone who is not familiar with Brazilian politics and therefore missed that dimension of the film, I will say that watching a two-and-a-half hour film with no plot severely taxes the spirit.
I could easily identify with Dona Clara's feelings. residing as I do in an area where gentrification, MacMansions, and huge, unwelcoming projects not unlike Stalin-era buildings, financed by long term, low interest loans are going up all over the area, approved by politicians and power-brokers who secret themselves in walled, guarded enclaves...far from "the madding crowd".
I asked the Brazilians with whom I attended the film what their Carioca friends were saying about the present political turmoil in the U.S....did it involve schadenfreude? Not really they agreed, the U.S. had been generally held in high regard, which the current situation does nothing to reinforce, and much to weaken.
I asked the Brazilians with whom I attended the film what their Carioca friends were saying about the present political turmoil in the U.S....did it involve schadenfreude? Not really they agreed, the U.S. had been generally held in high regard, which the current situation does nothing to reinforce, and much to weaken.
Dilma was the most incompetent president we ever had. She represented the Worker`s Party ( PT) leftist party which ruined Petrobras,our oil company,introducing large scale corruption and inept amdnistration. Now, a great number of these politicians and construction executives are in jail, including 3 treasurers of PT. Unemployed are now 12 milion. Many artists love PT because they had the benefits of Lei Rouanet, with its lax fiscalization.
In the film, Clara has two apartments, she is not a poor widow. Director Kleber had a Government job in Recife, some 2000 km away from his house in Rio.He has already left his Recife job. Aquarius competed in the Cannes film festival, got no prizes. Note: impeachment is a fully constitutional prdcedure in Brazil, rite of the process supervised by Superior Tribunal Federal our Supreme Court).
In the film, Clara has two apartments, she is not a poor widow. Director Kleber had a Government job in Recife, some 2000 km away from his house in Rio.He has already left his Recife job. Aquarius competed in the Cannes film festival, got no prizes. Note: impeachment is a fully constitutional prdcedure in Brazil, rite of the process supervised by Superior Tribunal Federal our Supreme Court).
3
You've authored of the few enlightened responses on the subject. Dilma and Lula have taken racketeering to unprecedented levels.
Interestingly enough, when former President Fernando Collor was eventually impeached for something comparatively benign, LULA was the opposition's biggest cheerleader calling for blood.
Fast forward to this decade, Lula has overseen a machine that's involved in everything from graft to murder, while his own son when from an illiterate Zoo security guard to a multi-millionaire, and his
Interestingly enough, when former President Fernando Collor was eventually impeached for something comparatively benign, LULA was the opposition's biggest cheerleader calling for blood.
Fast forward to this decade, Lula has overseen a machine that's involved in everything from graft to murder, while his own son when from an illiterate Zoo security guard to a multi-millionaire, and his
The big difference being that, while Clara has the means to put up a fight, Dilma had already been served her eviction notice the moment she was inaugurated president in January 2015. We are headed towards such as state of lawlessness in our country, what with our soon to be defunct Judicial system represented by magistrates and Supreme Court Justices who are clearly politcally biased, that, very soon, not even the Claras of Brazil will be able to stand for their rights, for there will be none left. And yes, corporate America (and the corporate world) play a huge part in murdering our young Democracy.
3
Any parallels drawn between Clara and Dilma's Rousseff's predicament seem a bit tentative but certainly resonate with the director’s largely successful strategy of tying his film to the political upheaval in Brazil. But the film's politics, like Brazil’s politics, are far from black and white. Film critics in Brazil have pointed out that Clara's role as a heroine should be taken with a grain of salt since despite her public discourse, she seems just as interested in her privilege as the representatives of the construction company she is entangled with.
Far from claiming that the director’s political stand is not genuine (it’s difficult to find an intelligent Brazilian who doesn’t see Dilma’s impeachment as a coup, even if Dilma was mired in a gigantic corruption scandal), I think it should be pointed out that Mendonça Filho has spent none of his time in the spotlight denouncing two of the greatest conservative forces at play in Brazil’s coup - Globo, the country’s dominant media group, which openly backed the coup (and is one of the three producers of “Aquarius”) and the banking industry, which eats up about half of Brazil’s government spending, and is the financial force behind VideoFilmes, solely owned by the heirs of Brazil’s second largest bank, Itau-Unibanco, and, one of "Aquarius" ' co-producer. It would appear as if director, rather than Dilma Rousseff, has more in common in with the film’s protagonist than one would think. And, that I believe, is the film's point.
Far from claiming that the director’s political stand is not genuine (it’s difficult to find an intelligent Brazilian who doesn’t see Dilma’s impeachment as a coup, even if Dilma was mired in a gigantic corruption scandal), I think it should be pointed out that Mendonça Filho has spent none of his time in the spotlight denouncing two of the greatest conservative forces at play in Brazil’s coup - Globo, the country’s dominant media group, which openly backed the coup (and is one of the three producers of “Aquarius”) and the banking industry, which eats up about half of Brazil’s government spending, and is the financial force behind VideoFilmes, solely owned by the heirs of Brazil’s second largest bank, Itau-Unibanco, and, one of "Aquarius" ' co-producer. It would appear as if director, rather than Dilma Rousseff, has more in common in with the film’s protagonist than one would think. And, that I believe, is the film's point.
1
You raise some interesting points, but please note that the director's political commentary has more to do (as the critic pointed out) with real estate speculation, as was his previous film, made long before even the riots of 2013, than with the current state of Brazilian politics. So, there's nothing tentative about the parallels drawn, because that's exactly the sentiment a lot of people have here in Brazil. It was the Brazilian audience who decided to paint the character of Clara as a Dilma of sorts. Aquarius has become the "resistance film" for those who oppose the coup. Also, the fact that the director has not spoken openly against Globo or the banks, or that these organizations have actually had a hand in producing the film, have no bearing on whatever political stand came afterwards, especially the one taken at the Cannes Festival. The director and the actors did what any Brazilian citizen against the coup would do if given the chance to speak out when the whole world was watching. You fight with the weapons you're given. No one can find fault with that.
1
I'm sorry, but you're missing out on too many points raised in this film. Perhaps only a Brazilian can understand the symbolism in the film and the number of issues it highlights. Brazil's eagerness to be an American colony is just one of them. Do your research, and perhaps watch some Glauber Rocha if you haven't before.
Or maybe this is a film about hoarding.
1
I saw the film recently in Brasil, in Portuguese. I did not miss the political over and undertones and I actually liked the film. But i was squirming in my seat that it took sooo long to come to, what I thought, was a fairly obvious and banal conclusion. EDIT!
Sonia Braga improves with time! Feisty and beautiful.
Sonia Braga improves with time! Feisty and beautiful.
One can get lost in the expressiveness of Sonia Braga's face while watching this film. I last saw her years ago in "Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands" (1976) and "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (1985) and she is even more triumphantly beautiful now than then.
10
Aquarius shows not only a metaphor of Brazil today but is also a beautiful movie. It has been a critically success all over the world, but shamelessly was denied by the actual Brazilian Cultural Ministery and its jury , to represent Brazil in the Oscars, showing how this illegitimate government is dealing also with culture in the country. But Aquarius is showing its power all over the world, and this make us Brazilians, with something to be proud of in such dark times for Brazil.
8
Perhaps Mr. Mendoca Filho can be persuaded to make a film about that elderly woman in Atlantic City who wouldn't get out of the way for Donald Trump's casino.
15
Her name was Vera Coking
5
Not everything is about Trump. There are similar instances throughout Manhattan and elsewhere of people seeking payoffs to sell coops or rentals to make way for condo conversions. Unlike those examples this woman is all about principle over money, quite unusual. The movie, which the review does not make very clear, is also about the racial divide in Brazil and the division between rich and poor in that country which antedated the political coup that deposed an elected president and will surely survive the outcome of the present struggle. The film is magnificent.
10