Amor Estranho Amor

Vera Fischer, I'll always remember you. You were born to do this role. Only you can do this character Perfect.

This Brazilian movie somewhat resembles the soapy, exploitative Brazilian "pornochachada" films of its era, but is a much more serious and arty (and pretentious) period film. The fairly serious plot is certainly not helped by the atrocious English dubbing of the existing VHS version, but the bigger problem is that the whole movie is even more laughably implausible than even the wildest, most out-there "pornochadas" I've seen.

The film is told in flashback as a fifty-something man remembers a brief period during WWII where he came to visit an upscale brothel managed by his mother. As political intrigue swirls both inside and outside the brothel, the twelve-year-old protagonist is seduced by no less than three of the prostitutes. The serious historical intrigue notwithstanding, it's very hard to buy (even in Brazil)that adult women working daily in the sex trade could not resist bedding a boy whose testicles probably haven't dropped yet. Obviously, the sex scenes between the nude adult women and the partially nude adolescent boy were (and still would be) considered controversial, but I think this movie is much less guilty of exploiting the adolescent male body than it is of exploiting the adolescent male fantasies that most adult males still vividly recall. (Besides if you're really looking at the twelve-year-old actor in the presence of all these voluptuous Brazilian women, I think it says a lot more about you than it does the movie).

As other reviews have mentioned, one of the prostitutes here is played Xuxa Menghel who went on to become a pretty big celebrity singer (and kiddie TV host!) in Brazil. She may indeed be the reason this rattling skeleton in her closet does not seemingly exist in any version with its native language. Still, she is undeniably sexy whether stripping out of a ridiculous bear costume or rubbing her naked self against the barely pubescent protagonist. She and some of the other women (including "pornochchada" regular Vanessa Alves)are really the only thing this overly serious, and at the same time, laughably ridiculous movie really has going for it.

A long wait for almost nothing. I wonder if all those legal actions Xuxa took over the prohibition of this film's release after she became a popstar on TV with her programs was really because of legal issues concerning distribution or because she was embarassed by how bad this thing was, a film she made before her stardom. Most of us know it's all about the controversy revolving a scene where she performs sexual acts with a 12-year-old boy (Marcelo Ribeiro) Never aired on regular TV and cable, only available in rare VHS copies and internet torrents, Canal Brasil made an exclusive release of it in 2021 and I finally got my chance to watch it. Final analysis is that here's a bad movie, incoherent, excessive and that doesn't have a message to say.

It's just an excuse for being a softcore with many nudity and sexual moment that leads to nowhere, and director/writer Walter Hugo Khouri again makes a movie about pre-teen horny yet shy boys having their encounter with older women. He dealt better with those themes in "Paixão Perdida" and "As Feras" (of which bears a strong similarity of an old man remembering his younger days and experiences). I was embarassed, tired and aching watching this.

The controversies aside - which makes this film watchable and interesting for male audiences or females who have a thing for preying on young boys, "Amor Estranho Amor" ("Love Strange Love") was a painful experience when it comes to present its second backstory concerning dull political aspects on the powerful men who attends the mansion brothel where the little boy spends his time after being abandoned by his grandmother who leaves him there to live with his prostitute mother (Vera Fischer). She's the apple of the eyes of the rich character played by Tarcísio Meira, who is destined to buy her a house, so she can leave the mansion and live with her son in some peace and quiet instead of having lots of beautiful women lusting on her child. But it all fails and the slightly innocent boy becomes the center of attention to all of the prostitues, specially from the young Tamara (Xuxa), of whom he dreams about just like he dreams about his mother - as a critic pointed out it feels like "Murmur of the Heart". To me, a more perverted and almost explicit version of that movie.

As I said, the whole political thing is distracting, it slows the movie down and not to mention it's a script mistake since the film is told from the boy's point of view as an old man (Walter Forster), and those moments where he's not present shouldn't be part of the story unless the story was being written withuot the old man.

How on earth he could remember all that? The only thing that matters is the relations and fantasies he has with the women, or when he's spying on Tamara and Dr. Bráulio (Mauro Mendonça) on bed, an important political ally of Tarcísio's character. When dealing with memories it's important to us that we get an enlightment from the old character on why he's remembering this and the importance those moments had on his life later on. This film lacks for not providing that.

What's left in this pointless story are the scenes of sexual nature whether being the ones from the boy (too awkward to watch and for most of the time I kept thinking how if the genders were traded how would that be with the same treatment of the one depicted here. Far from being an "Lolita" and more fire on the bonfire of controversies) and the ones from the brothel clients, or the mother with her regular costumer. Some scenes are brilliantly filmed and staged; others are just exploitative and gratuitous.

It was a bizarre film experience that only served one purpose and it was not about having fantasies or memories of younger days; it served to put me to sleep in the final five minutes of it and to not providing enough distraction or some food for thought with such an unpleasant and dull story. Not recommended, unless if you are curious in seeing this rarity starring Xuxa hitting on the young boy (the confrontation scene where she's slapped by the mom is priceless though. LOL). 4/10.

Hollywood produces hundreds of action/cartoon/fantasy films each year. Look closely and you'll see they all mimic each other. Redundency is key in Hollywood. However if you seek a thinking film, which reaches into your every day life, look to Foreign Films. Here is one called " Amor Estranho Amor. " Roughly translated it means, 'Love, Strange Love. ' It's the story of a man, Hugo (adult - Walter Forster) who's returning to the family home he lived in when he was a very young Brazilian preteen boy growing up amid the governmental turmoil of the 1930's. Having been evicted by his Grandmother, he is taken to live in his mother's house, a glamorous, socially exclusive, high class Bordello. While there, Hugo as a child (Marcelo Ribeiro) recalls the two days he spent with his prostitute mother and a bevy of beautiful whores. While a group of political radicals plan the over throw of the government, Hugo is treated to the eye-popping candy delights of his youthful imagination, while his mother warns him of those same pleasures. The movie is stylish, often opulent with respects to the lavish settings, the gorgeous women and most startling with the innocent beauty of the boy and his mother. However, the stagnant dialog and poor acting of the principals leaves much to be desired. Although there is much controversy over the inter-action between the young boy and the lascivious courtesans, there is nothing in the movie to be feared by any save those who lack sophistication. As for those mature enough to accept this masterful art piece for what it is, the writer/director Walter Khouri, his cast Xuxa Meneghel, Tarcisio Meira and Vera Fishcher are to be praised as they have given the world a foreign Classic. Well done. *****

I understand that this movie was made in a time where life was not running at a pace as fast as it is now; but even with this in mind it is just boring.

especially the director's obsession with blue eyes staring out of frozen faces in closeup is getting pretty annoying after some time. cut out all these "blue eyes staring" scenes and the length would probably get down to about 1.5 hours (instead of the actual 2 hours), making it more bearable.

also most of the dialogs are just unsatisfying and simple.

not being from brasil I don't get the point about xuxa, but her beauty and nakedness (together vera fischer and with all the other nude girls) at least accounts for a few points in my rating.