Beth Webb - Events EditorFollowing a sold out weekend of Drama, Comedy, socialising some indulgent cinematography, the Odeon in Piccadilly sprung open its doors for another packed evening of events.
Following a sold out
weekend of Drama, Comedy, socialising some indulgent cinematography, the Odeon
in Piccadilly sprung open its doors for another packed evening of events. André
Miranda’s God eased us into the programme with a sombre account of the fate
of a chicken in tribute to the meaning of life. Lucia Murat’s A Long
Journey was received admirably straight afterwards.
Set in the late 1960s, this documentary following three
brothers on the verge of adolescence is voiced through the younger sibling’s
story as he is sent to London, under his family’s orders, in a bid to save him
from entering into the battle against the Brazilian dictatorship.
Murat is sister to the brothers and has strived to become a
national figure after becoming a political prisoner during the conflict. Her
brother Heitor’s story is told through his letter sent from around the world
and interviews with his family and is a moving and intimate depiction of
political turmoil.
In sharp contrast to the realities of A Long Journey, Mauro Lima’s
Kings And Rats (Main Picture) is a comedy running at break neck speed, interweaving a
handful of narratives surrounding those involved in Brazilian politics during
the same time. Central to the telling of events is Troy, a CIA Agent doubting
which side he’s on and employing the help of his Brazilian sidekick Major
Esdras in a bid to ambush the president.
A show tunes crooner is paid handsomely to seduce for her
country and is continuously saved from danger by the strange premonitions of a
radio presenter that can only be described as a Brazilian Channing Tatum, and a
junky spy leaves anyone guessing who his alliance lies with. The fast paced
nature doesn’t favour those that aren’t fluent in Brazilian, but with its
heavily stylised traits, black and white segments and deliberate lighting this
is certainly a unique piece of cinema with a nod to topical threats of the
time. This comic instalment didn’t raise as many belly laughs as Monday’s begra
documentary I’ll Raffle Off My Heart
but brought through its characters a lighter perspective on a dark time in
Brazil.
Prior to this glossy offering, Paulo Vespũcio
Gacia’s short film Joãozinho in the Flesh descends from
a boy running through woods with his pug to a nightmare of his own devising.
Playing on the basic premise of being sold by your parents to a demonic
stranger, this simple story plays on childish scares to great effect.
With the festival drawing to a close on Tuesday evening, Monday,
which arguably should have been one of the quieter days of the programme, made
sure it resonated a strong and relevant features that still managed to hold a
heavy crowd.
