Mitternacht

"Midnight" is a powerful Brazilian drak drama with a minimal script and a gritty shoot in the slums of Rio which tells a man and a woman on a collision course with destiny. The film does not explain itself and leaves the audience to voyeuristically witness the the plight of the characters while not bothering with the "why" of it all. Artfully done, technically sound, "Midnight" is an intense 70 minute watch which will be most appreciated by foreign film fans.

Although Walter Salles deserves praise for "Central do Brasil" ("Central Station"), "O Primeiro Dia" ("Midnight") doesn't compare. It's a depressing melange of unsympathetic characters (except for Fernanda Torres and a young deaf boy she's teaching), gratuitous violence, and bleak urban landscapes. It's also a bit of a juvenile male fantasy in the sense that the camera dwells voyeuristically on various aspects of Fernanda Torres's nude or seminude body. Why does poor Torres have to undress in such films as this and "O Judeu" ("The Jew"), while the male actors remain clothed below the waistline? Seems like a double standard to me.

This is the latest film by Daniela Thomas and Walter Salles (CENTRAL STATION and TERRA ESTRANGEIRA). It premiered in Brazil with the title THE FIRST DAY (O PRIMEIRO DIA, LE PREMIER JOUR in France). Several stories take place on December 31, 1999 in Rio de Janeiro, and lead into New Year's Day 2000. These subplots meet and conclude on the first day of the millenium. The film features knock out performances by Fernanda Torres, and Mateus Nachtergale (CENTRAL STATION) in particular.

A strong drama on the passage from year 1999 to 2000. Will the new year be the same or something completely different? Beautifully filmed (predictably, as it is a movie by Walter Salles!), with many great actors, it will show, between lights and darkness, the extremes in Rio de Janeiro: slum and beach, labour and party, prision and Christ the Redeemer, violence and love.

a two thread story, little character depth - very short, the DVD was 72 minutes, deadpan ending.

nothing new basically

I gave it a 5 because of the acting and location.

Whatever happened to the boyfriend?

Did I miss something?