Traição

TRAICAO means betrayal in Portuguese, and the theme is explored in three different quirky stories, all set in Rio. Betrayal, Rio, and the Montenegro/Torres family (the mother/daughter Fernandas play the most memorable roles, though they are but two of the Torres' in the production) are thus the common thread in the second feature presented in competition here at the Third Brazilian Film Festival. Billed as a 1998 production, BETRAYAL, among its stellar cast (in addition to the Fernanda s), showcases recognizable actors from Brazil's last two bids for the Foreign Language Film Oscar. The film's vignettes are all in different decades (depicted in what can best be described as "Rio Gothic "style), but thoroughly "Cariocan" (from Rio)in any case. Whether you know about Rio or not, all three cases of BETRAYAL are deliciously, pervertedly comical and thoroughly entertaining. Surely coming to a "festival near you" or to video soon, see it. I think, most people, familiar with Brazil and with the Fernanda's or not, will enjoy BETRAYAL (Traicao).

'Betrayal' is an adaptation to the screen of three amoral tales of Nelson Rodrigues, one of the best Brazilian contemporaneous writers.

1st Episode: 'O Primeiro Pecado' ('The First Sin') Director: Arthur Fontes (02 Nov 2004)

Mário (Pedro Cardoso) meets the married woman Irene (Fernanda Torres) in the bus station, and a few days later, he invites her to go to the apartment of his friend Jordão (Tonico Pereira) for having sex. Revelations and lies are disclosed in the end. My vote is eight.

2nd Episode: 'Diabólica' ('Evil Woman') Director: Claudio Torres (02 Nov 2004)

On the rainy day of his wedding with Dagmar (Fernanda Torres), Geraldo (Daniel Dantas) goes to a precinct with the dead body of his bride's sister Alicinha (Ludmila Dayer). While waiting for the family, Geraldo tells Marshal Argemiro Santos (Francisco Cuoco) a sordid and sick story. Further dirty revelations are disclosed in the end. My vote is ten.

3rd Episode: 'Cachorro!' ('Dog!', literally, but meaning 'Bastard!') Director: José Henrique Fonseca (02 Nov 2004)

A husband (Alexandre Borges) goes to a cheap hotel room, where he finds his best friend (José Henrique Fonseca) having sex with his wife (Drica Moraes). The story has a tragic end. My vote is seven.

I am a great fan of Nelson Rodrigues and I used to read his column on the newspaper (although many of his texts were about his soccer team 'Fluminense', and mine is his opponent 'Flamengo') and some of his books. Many screenplays in the Brazilian cinema or TV series or theater plays are adaptation of his stories. His corrupted and amoral view of the values of the society and religion has always fascinated me. 'Betrayal' is performed by some of the best Brazilian actors and actresses, leaded by Fernanda Montenegro and Fernanda Torres. My global vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): 'Traição' ('Betrayal')