"Brasília 18%" tells the fictional story of a famous medical examiner (Carlos Alberto Riccelli) called in a emergency case to go to Brasília (Brazil's administrative capital), to confirm the identity of a famous female economist dead body. He's having many personal (and to the story pointless) personal problems after the accidental death of his wife (Bruna Lombardi) and worst, he's got to deal with the pressure of many politicians interesting in getting the results of the autopsy. In the middle of that we find out that the woman is not who they're after, and a political crisis is right ahead and this doctor might get into some real trouble.
Why this movie is relevant? Because it tells about political corruption, has a mystery in it and it's almost a satirical way to portray many real events that took place in Brazil during the past 5 years and how every single politic in the country is involved in some deep and nasty things. There's a sense of irony in the air, and what's most funny about this film is that the government (people in Brasília) produced this movie (In Brazil the government is "forced" to produce every single movie made, it is guaranteed by law that filmmakers get some funds to make their movies). Can you imagine Costa Gavras asking money for the government in order to make "Z" his film about the corrupt in Greece's politic in the 1960's? Giant laugh!
But the mock stops right here. Why this movie is so wrong? Writer and Director Nelson Pereira dos Santos is famous for many other great films, and this one makes his return behind cameras (his 18th movie, that's why the number in the title) and it was critically panned here. OK some critics were right. It was filled with flaws, pointless things (the visions of doctor's dead wife; the naked womens; every single women wants to jump in the doctor's bones; too many characters that doesn't add or explain nothing). The connection between the characters is just silly. For instance: in a scene where the doctor is on his expensive hotel, out of nowhere a prostitute appears and stays with him (no sex involved). She says something about knowing the "deceased" woman. 1) How did she know who he was? 2) How in the world she passed the hotel attendants? Her presentation was badly written and presented but then we find out she's necessary to the plot. The main character is dead on scene, he doesn't seem to know how to bluff with all this politics and says "I'll present my report later". No, he's too afraid of doing anything. And it only looks that he didn't suffered enough the loss of his wife, because every time he sees a woman he has sex with all. And worst than all that: in the end nothing was solved and there was some hysterical funny moments.
This movie had potential to be bigger but it's not. It could be a ironic film about the dangers of corruption; it could be a denounce thriller just like "Z" and similar movies. It is just an ordinary piece of work with too many characters, many pointless moments, and too many bad acting (except for the great Carlos Vereza who plays a powerful Senator but he only appears in a few scenes). Watchable but if you're not familiar with Brazilian's politics you're gonna find it boring and weird. 7/10.
