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I'm not going to lengthy review this Film, there's just no need to. Let me just tell you what I thought of it. First of all, it was supposed to show you a romantic LOVE STORY, not a big drama, not science fiction, not a documentary... just a plain love story. Not a 'normal' love story though, not even in gay terms. It deals with two issues at once: Gay love and incest. But in a very gentle way, that's for sure. Seeing the boys grow up, being so fond of each other surely was nice to watch! As the boys grow older and become men, they also sexualize their relationship, which came (I have to admit that) a) too late, and b) too suddenly. One would think that adolescent boys start 'playing' a little earlier than these two did. Anyway, that was the only thing that really startled me for a moment. Other than that the film was a great watch, which surely had to do with the sheer beauty of the two main actors, especially Joao Gabriel Vasconcellos, who played the older adult brother 'Francisco'. The chemistry between the two guys is wonderful, and you want these two men to love each other forever.

I can highly recommend this film. If you want action, blood, drama, sex, drugs & Rock'n'Roll - then stay away from it. Otherwise... DO TRY!

The movie tackles with straight-forward candidness the biggest taboo of western societies: the incest. To top it all off, the relationship happens between two brothers. The movie struck me as extremely poetic, with great cinematography and a LOT of chemistry between the main actors. The love scenes will make you gasp with their intensity and sense of poetry, but the film lacks any real reason d'être.

The main subject in hand, with all of it's richness and subtleties, gets pushed to the side, while some other less interesting plot takes on from half the movie onwards.

I did enjoy the film quite a bit, especially for the ease with which it talks about a very taboo subject.

Oh, and I must mention the main actors are, naturally, extremely hot.

I don't understand why mutually consenting sex between brothers near the same age is a big deal. It's not as if they would produce deformed offspring. That particular taboo makes no sense to me. I'm not advocating gay incest, but horror at the idea of sex between brothers – even in a movie, and even among gay men – mystifies me. I've never been at all attracted to my own brother, but two brothers' falling in love in a movie does not make me the least bit uncomfortable. I don't feel compelled to try to twist it into something else that's more acceptable.

People who say it's easy to forget that Francisco and Thomás are brothers in the latter half of the movie must be TRYING to forget it, because the movie never stops affirming the fact that that's what they are. Fighting that battle while trying to enjoy a movie must detract a lot from the enjoyment.

This is a flawed but interesting and unusual movie, and I can understand why even the many positive reviews it gets have trouble describing it. It has been called a fairy tale because Francisco and Thomás seem to live in a dream world as cut off from the real world as Sleeping Beauty in her castle. But aren't all young lovers like that? Isn't that what love and hormones do to young people? Doesn't the rest of the world tend to fall away when the beloved comes into view? That's how it was when I was young.

So to say that this is a fairly tale is simply to say that it is a love story. It's an unusual love story, but fundamentally it is just like any other romance movie. If anything, its depiction of the all-consuming ecstasy of young love is MORE realistic than most movies are, not less.

Others have emphasized the parents' evident oblivion or even acquiescence to what is going on under their noses, but that seems to me like just another symptom of the irrational taboo I mentioned earlier. It's like: "What those boys are doing is WRONG! Why don't their parents stop it?" But, again, I ask: Why? Who is hurting whom? Nobody that I can see.

When they're children, they simply love each other and love to be together, and they are freely affectionate with each other. Is that bad? Why? Should the mother slap her son when he kisses his younger brother on the head or puts his arm around him or holds him while they sleep? Why? Is fighting better? Is sibling rivalry better than sibling affection? Evidently it is to many people.

Neither of those is what I see as a weakness in this movie. It's true that the movie is unreal, but what seems most unreal to me is not the brothers' relationship with each other or with their parents. That's just an extraordinarily loving and mutually accepting family, which is almost never seen in a movie or in real life but should be everybody's ideal of what a family ought to be. If that's not the unconditional love people rave about nowadays, I don't know what is.

What seems most unreal to me is the other adults' relationships with each other, the fantastically loving relationships between exes and in-laws and friends who are NOT in love with each other, who are NOT caught up in the heady ecstasy of hormones and young love. That excess of affection is just plain weird.

Another weakness I see is in the dialog. The core story about the brothers is fine – it's a love story – but what people say to each other is stilted and awkward, not at all the way real people talk. It's like the way people talk in TV commercials. And the problem is not just in the English subtitles, which actually are very good: what they're saying in Portuguese sounds just as phony.

And the final weakness I see is in the direction. The director seems to be trying to make something besides JUST a love story, but what that other something is never comes clear. It feels as if he is intentionally trying to make it an allegory, or an epic myth, or a ballet, or something else abstract that wrestles constantly with the extremely simple love story which the movie actually is.

The scene in which the adult brothers slowly undress for the first time as they face each other across the room is particularly strange, like something out of a kabuki performance. That obscure tension between what the movie is and what the director is trying to make it be doesn't ruin the movie, but it IS distracting.

All four actors who play the two brothers as children and then as adults are very good and very beautiful, inside and out. What the director did an EXCELLENT job of is getting straight actors (which I assume they all are) to be so convincingly loving toward each other. Every affectionate gesture, every touch, every loving look is totally convincing. That could NEVER happen in an American or Canadian movie, or even in a European movie, and I've never seen it in any other movie from Latin America. It is a unique and astonishing accomplishment.

The director also gets credit for the movie's other great accomplishment, which is simply that it got made. A movie about love, passion, unshakable devotion, loyalty, innocence, tenderness and limitless generosity between two men is rarer than hens' teeth. The scene in which they exchange wedding rings alone together at home is one of the sweetest, sexiest scenes I have ever seen. I have never seen any other movie that even comes close to the love between these two men, and I have seen hundreds and hundreds of gay movies. This is far from the best of them, but it is the most wonderful.

Being Muslim and open-minded, I found this true gay brotherly love movie quite a great movie. Gay love making is not cheap and the story is quite normal and impressive too. Not surprised it won awards.

Do Começo ao Fim - FROM BEGINNING TO END – CATCH IT ( B+ ) Brazilian movie "Do Começo ao Fim" is a visual treat along with moving performances by João Gabriel Vasconcellos and Rafael Cardoso. This movie talks about the taboo topic of half brothers falling in Incestuous relationship & Love. Though the movie deals with sensitive and hardcore subject matter but the movie not for a second seems like anything different than a Love Story. I loved what one of the reviewer mentioned on IMDb that this movie reflects the Dream World where the Incestuous Love between Half brothers is nothing more than merely LOVE. The movie starts off with Francisco & Thomás, when they are young kids. From there the whole beauty of caring for each other was represented in a very decent way plus how the mother & Francisco's father started to feel that they are more closer than they are suppose too. I loved the way movie was progressing but then suddenly the death of Pedro (Francisco's father) & 10 years later the death of their Mother changed the movie into another direction. The movie didn't show how the boys dealt with these feeling as teenagers, because I believe that's the toughest part or Maybe as I have mentioned before the director was living in Dream World. so, from there we were left with Intimate Love of Francisco & Thomás. The Love scene between João Gabriel Vasconcellos and Rafael Cardoso was pasteurized exquisitely & the dialogues were splendidly powerful. After that movie went off to Love & Long Distance relationship between Francisco & Thomás, which was heartfelt to watch because of outstanding chemistry between João Gabriel Vasconcellos and Rafael Cardoso. João Gabriel Vasconcellos and Rafael Cardoso are exceptionally gorgeous and their chemistry and performance was very natural & touchy. There was not a second when I felt like they were merely two actors playing falling in Love because the way they behave around each other & looked at each other, it was all LOVE. Lucas Cotrin as young Francisco & Gabriel Kaufmann as young Thomás were treat to watch. They were funny, caring & shared an awesome chemistry. Júlia Lemmertz looked elegant & exquisite, if I was the director I would have loved to see the whole family dealing with this issue but somehow Director lived the Dream Charming World. Fábio Assunção Jean Pierre Noher and Louise Cardoso were good in their parts. Overall, watch it for Erotic & Intimate chemistry between João Gabriel Vasconcellos and Rafael Cardoso along with Stunning Cinematography.

I got this movie out on DVD without knowing too much about it and I was absolutely blown away. It is such a touching and romantic movie. I know it has taboo topics but they are handled so gently and with such acceptance by the film makers and the the characters within the story. It truly moved me in a way a film has never done for me before. It is probably not for everyone due to some of it's taboo content, but honestly, it should be viewed regardless. It is such an exquisite portrayal and will really make you think. I cannot praise this movie more highly. Forget the mind-numbing exploitative offerings of The Hangover or Bridesmaids, and see what great film can accomplish.

A love story circling 2 brothers is a shocker enough in a sentence, let alone be a movie. The movie starts off by having a very subtle, poetic undertone to it. The music providing a very thorough atmosphere to accompany the viewers throughout. We are given layers upon layers in understanding the relationship of the young lovers, still concealed in the name of youth. As they age and the viewers are given a very visual and rather erotic embodiment of the relationship, it starts to feel as if the movie is too naive, too perfect for a taboo and sadly, it ends with a less than climatic conclusion. Expecting a total controversy in storyline, this movie lacks the bite it appears to have.

Finally! A film that reveals the truths about growing up gay that you've always wondered about: (1) Every gay comes from a rich family with two professional parents who dine with their country's President. (2) Divorced parents of gays still love their ex-spouses, treat them with dignity and respect and have them over for dinner. (3) Plain women who lose hot lovers become live-in nannies for the gay children of raving beauties who got the guy. (4) Brothers love each other at first sight (immediately at birth) and turn gay so that they can always be together. (5) Parents of gays always understand the double-whammy of homosexual incest, especially when the whole town knows about it too. (6) Gay brothers, who have slept together since infancy, finally get it on with each other for the first time on the day when their mother dies. (7) Fathers of gay sons give them million-dollar houses so they can always be together while he moves to a two-room apartment. But it ain't all bad: a great film for watching hot guys run around in their jockey shorts.

The filmmaker starts off with an intriguing premise. How much would love flourish if we lived in a world uncomplicated by belief systems that thrive on shame and conformity? In my eyes, the filmmaker is a dreamer. Not a realist. And it was refreshing and fascinating to watch as the story unfolded. It was profound.

The story begins with a boy at the age of six who is escorted by a nurse to see his newborn brother. Immediately, the filmmaker is setting up the rules of his idyllic world. And the rules are consistent throughout. The father is nowhere to be seen. In fact, there are no adults other than an impartial nurse who leads the boy to the person who will ultimately be the love of his life.

The six year-old brother looks into his baby brother's eyes through the viewing window and a profound connection is formed. The filmmaker makes his first point. Could this mysterious thing we call love start even before birth? In most of the best love films that I've seen, and I've seen plenty, when two lovebirds meet the love of their life they have that experience of, haven't we met before? Or, I feel like I've known you all my life.

I won't go into the whole story but I was fascinated by the filmmaker's decision to leave as much conflict out of the picture as possible. He showed us hints of potential conflicts but wisely didn't emphasize them. It was a brave choice. Abranches' vision would prefer to keep the boy's perpetually in the womb of their mother. Which is another important theme throughout the story.

Abranches give us a vision of his Garden of Eden before the fall and the Great Conflict. Before Adam hid himself in the bushes when God walked the grounds and he asked Adam, why are you hiding? I'm naked. And God became angry, who told you thou wast naked? What kind of world would that be like? I can only imagine but I caught a glimpse of it up there on the big silver screen. I highly recommend From Beginning to End.

When this movie ended very abruptly, my and my husband's first thought was "this could have been a great movie, but the writers blew it." First of all, the characters needed to be developed much more than they were. We barely got to know them and their level of affection as adults toward one another seemed oddly inadequate, considering how devoted they apparently were to each other all their lives. Time for this could easily be taken away from the excessive time spent developing a sub plot of the older brother's clubbing adventures.

Amazingly, the screenplay virtually ignores any acknowledgment between the brothers that their relationship is outside the norm. I have absolutely nothing against gay relationships and can even deal with a relationship between brothers. However, I find it hard to imagine that this topic would not be discussed by the brothers. It was the pink elephant in the room for much of the movie and left me wanting so much more when the movie came to an end.

I hope there will someday be an English version that corrects these flaws.

This is a ridiculous film, without any substance—someone's puerile fantasy of an ideal love presented without a shred of insight, sensitivity or storytelling skill.

Despite the physical beauty of the leads, the movie is not even erotic, partly because the stars are such poor actors (especially João Gabriel, who has two expressions: simpering grin and supermodel pout), but mostly because, without any characterization to define them or conflict to challenge them, we are never made to feel a longing to see these two people connect.

The two brothers are beautiful and perfect and perfectly in love; they were born that way and will be that way forever in a static, insular world without incident. This is not the stuff of drama, or even of naive wish-fulfillment; what is there to wish for? That the main characters are gay or half-brothers is irrelevant; if this film were about any other two people of whatever relationship or gender, it would be just as ludicrous.

Its certainly a film worth watching.. especially during these lonely lockdown times in america ;)

Even though the subject matter may repel some, as the film begins it immediately immerses the viewer into the family life of brothers Thomas and Francisco. The film is fearless and daring in many ways as its touches on some very taboo subject matters. It slowly creeps up to you, but once this drama sees the boys as grown men, it takes a very nostalgic mood. There is a very haunting aspect to this film that will leave you lulled and wanting more. There is also a certain amount of sadness eminent from the fantastic performances from Rafael Cardoso and João Gabriel Vasconcellos. Both these men light up the screen, and their chemistry was incendiary with a very fierce dynamic relationship that takes twists and turns in many directions but ultimately leaves you yearning for what was once between them. The film is pretty much about life changes and how some of the best times are hard to let go as mere memories. Both brothers, in their own way, must deal with life's changes and its unexpectedness. Very poetic and always eloquent in its storytelling, dealing with such difficult subject matter was flawlessly handled sensitively in the very capable hands of Aluisio Abranches. Brazil should be proud to have this film. It represents very well the beautiful people of Brazil, their culture and it give you great insight of a culture that is filled with traditions as well as strong family and community ties.

As the movie beautifully unfolds, we explore and observe a relationships and how difficult it can be to let go of the tie that binds.

Imma kinda out of words to write right now, but anyway the intense heat of the feeling I've just had since the end of movie, which is about ten minutes now, just wants to emerge the word LOVE itself.

You won't find any other explanation for such a heart-devastating flick like this rather than your own personal feelings regarding to your own private desires. If you're into gay interest movies, don't you please, lose the chance of watching it. It is remarkably poetic and stunning. Your heart shall write the final lines for it. You'll get what I mean, once you've reached that point.

LOVE itself is represented in every little second of this movie.

If the idea of two very young brothers forming a sexual attraction with each other isn't unsettling to you,then you would do well to check yourself in to the nearest psychiatric institution immediately for the good of society. This is exactly the topic and issue the director sought to address; the normalization of the abnormal. The film shows the pain, sorry and acceptance of a very loving family when they realize what is developing right in front of their eyes with no way to stop it without potentially disastrous consequences for their sons. The theme is played out constantly among the adults; "what is worse for the boys; letting this continue or letting them know it is abnormal?" As the story progresses, we see that the same theme resurfaces among the protagonists as well; and this time no one is really sure of the answer. Definitely an interesting case study and slice of life in affluent South American society (Brazilian and Argentinian). I'm not sure if this has ever been subtitled into any language other than portuguese, but it is well made and worth a watch for people who want to test their own boundaries and perceptions of "normalcy".

A film that claims to contain sexualised nudity and is about incest between two very hot brothers should not be as boring as this. It lacked passion, drama and a point really. It's nice to see accepting parents in that situation without all the coming out issues, but it needed some darkness to balance the light. Too much artistic photography and too many musical interludes where there should have been a story. Such a shame as it had great potential.

FROM BEGINNING TO END (Do Começo ao Fim) is the work of writer/director Aluzio Abranches who was born and raised in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He graduated in Economics before going to the London International Film School, in 1983. His first feature- film, 'Um Copo de Cólera' (1999) was acclaimed in several international film festivals. In 2002 his second feature-film, As três Marias (The Three Marias) also was selected to various festivals abroad. His latest movie, 'Do Começo ao Fim' (From Beginning to End) tells a story about two male half-brothers who fall in love. The movie caused tremendous controversy as some people loved the delicate relationship between them and others who were outraged by the suggestion of incest. Nevertheless, it is undeniable it was groundbreaking for the homosexual Brazilian cinematography, being selected to over 25 international film festivals, many of them dedicated to the gay pride and film production.

Though the feelings of viewers continues to be quite mixed, hopefully in time the film as an art work will be better appreciated. It is an exquisite study of family in a different light than any other film has probed. Julieta (Júlia Lemmertz) is currently married to Alexandre (Fábio Assunção) and they have a child Thomás who according to the narrator - the half brother Francisco from Julieta's previous marriage to Pedro (Jean Pierre Noher) - was born with his eyes closed and kept them closed except for looking at his new brother. Into this loving atmosphere the two brothers are close, enjoying each other's company in play and adventures and proximity. Francisco as a child is played by Lucas Cotrim and Thomás as a child is played by Gabriel Kaufmann. Thomás idolizes his big brother and Francisco looks to Thomás for secure love. The boys visit Pedro (Francisco's father) in Buenos Aires at Christmas and Pedro discusses with Julieta that he is concerned that the boys are too close, a fact that Julieta acknowledges but assures Pedro that this is normal in boys their age. At home in Rio de Janeiro Alexandre poses the same concern, but the two young boys are so happy and successful in school and sports that the subject is dropped. Pedro dies, then Julieta dies, and the two now grown young lads have only their shared father Alexandre to parent them. As young very handsome, athletic men Francisco (now played by João Gabriel Vasconcellos) and Thomás ( Rafael Cardosa) are left alone in their home and their relationship deepens into a physical one. The lads deeply love each other and their physical love is as wondrously portrayed as their love as half brothers. They exchange rings. They both are dedicated swimmers, but Thomás is better and is offer to go to Russia to train for the Olympics. The idea of separation deeply troubles them both, but Francisco's love for Thomás sees the importance to his brothers career and off Thomás goes to Russia. While the lads are separated they yearn for each other: Francisco attempts to assuage his longing with a young girl but his commitment to Thomás is stronger. The film ends in a statement of commitment and love between these two extraordinary men.

The physical aspects of the relationship are beautifully captured in the sensitive cinematography by Ueli Steiger: the acts are passionate but visually subtle. The musical score by André Abujamra adds another realm of power to the story's character. Each of the actors in the film is excellent. It is rare that broken family stories have been shared with such grace and delicacy. And both Vasconcellos and Cardoso seem to have a fine career ahead of them.

FROM BEGINNING TO END should not be labeled as a gay film even though it allows the viewer to see the power of same sex relationships in a beautifully described new light. This is, simply, a fine film and Aluzio Abranches deserves kudos for his accomplishment.

Grady Harp