Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus

I don't usually start with cinematography and direction, but the first scene really got me as well as many others in Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus (2005) - Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures. Mauro Pinheiro Jr.'s cinematography, together with Marcelo Gomes (director) smart shots, makes us feel how hot it is in the location but with beauty, a brilliant work. The location is a Brazilian Northeast zone, characterized by a biome called Caatinga, which is very close to deserts, very hot and with lack of rain.

Besides, there is beauty in the dark too. They utilized old lamps, candles, fire pits... Tools from the year the story covers: 1942.

Everybody nailed in making this movie historical accurate. The songs (like the one that is playing in the radio in the first scene), the radio itself and every object in the film, the outfits and the sets.

It's not just a gorgeous movie, it also has a nice story and an entertaining screenplay, it's a well thought out road movie.

It follows the journey of a German that migrates to Brazil before the Second World War and who travels the country selling aspirins. There are good and bad things on his way, in his life, and he experiences things together with a man called Ranulpho. I won't say more about the plot and the screenplay, I just wanna highlight that the relationship between the two is very believable and well done.

This has everything to do with the acting. The chemistry between João Miguel and Peter Ketnath is great and both were perfectly cast to their respective roles. João Miguel (Ranulpho) is very charismatic and add a mystery to his character. Peter Ketnath, who is German, is also charismatic and built a complex character, with a gracious way of speaking Portuguese.

It's a worth watching adventure film that also has important informations on Brazilian history.

Movie industry in Brazil has gone through many different phases and in all of them the northeast of the country has been a great source for film productions due to its social, cultural and natural conditions. So, throughout Brazilian movie industry, these northeast movies have been over-exposed. Avoiding clichés and stereotypes is not an easy task; and that is what Marcelo Gomes did quite successfully on his debut. The story itself is not that attractive, but the subtle way by which Marcelo conducts the scenes leads us to think of humanistic matters without committing the common mistake in the movie industry of giving us answers. There is a sensible balance: The grouchy and restless Ranulpho reminds us of the plight Brazilians from that region face and the absurdity of living in that condition; The smooth and adventurous Johann reiterates the adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that despite the circumstances life should be lived. It sounds dumb when put into words, but images don not speak, they imply, and the characters are busy enough living, they don't philosophize to come to the conclusions for you. It is all an undeniable achievement for Brazilian movie industry.

Watching this is a waste of 99 minutes of my life and my money! first off, the plot is weak and pointless. the direction is slow and unsteady. there are no chemistry between the two leads and i don't feel their 'friendship'.

this movie is not touching nor emotional nor funny. sure its different, but in a weird sense. there's no message delivered from this film and i found my eyes half closed during the whole duration of this lifeless, dead picture.

i guess the response from Brazilian audiences are different to foreign audiences. which is why, i cant believe this movie is rated so high on IMDb.

"Cinema, Aspirinas e Urubus" is Brazil's official entry for the 2007 Academy Awards Foreign Language Film competition.

It will probably not win, for it is too arty for the Oscars taste (it won a special prize at the Cannes Film Festival), but it definitely deserves a nomination.

Beyond its apparent simplicity, you will discover an overwhelming tale of friendship, with very decent performances (specially by João Miguel) and exquisite cinematography.

A must see for everyone who appreciates good cinema!

P.s: I also recommend another new Brazilian gem - O Ano em Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias (2006)

MOVIES, ASPIRIN AND VULTURES (Marcelo Gomes - Brazil 2005)

The film has the potentially great pretext of a young German trying to sell the recently discovered aspirin in the Northeast of Brazil during World War II, molded in a kind of road-movie. The discovery of aspirin is one of those little forgotten things in history. Sadly, the result is only mildly interesting and certainly not a great film.

Not much is done with the potentially funny pretext; A German traveling through northeastern Brazil in 1942 is something different, either for Brazilians back then, or contemporary Brazilians, or any audience around the world. Nobody seems to bother. And many of the scenes where he tries to sell aspirin with the help of a promo film (he brought a film projector) about headaches and the curing qualities of the product, could have been funny or touching, but it's executed in quite a lacklustre way. A real shame. Secondly, the cinematography. They shot on location in North-East Brazil, but the interesting locale is mostly left unused.

Not a bad film perse, it has some interesting moments but it suffers from a lack of inspiration and could have used a little more plot. The rural setting in NE-Brazil is interesting, especially for a European spectator but otherwise not a very engaging film. Messy, uninspired and a lack of ideas.

Camera Obscura --- 5/10