A Ilha dos Prazeres Proibidos

Off course the film is irregular, as softcore pornochanchadas used to be at the best. However, Carlos Reichenbach was very clever to use that popular mainstream Brazilian movie genre and bypass censorship in order to criticize military dictatorship under the regime itself (Pra frente Brasil did it too outnof the genre, but in a less repressive moment; a three-year distance mattered). Victims are left wing people who fought dictatorship, but are presented as lusty polygamous fugitives who are hidden making a lot of sex in a paradise island. The nemesis is a mischievous assassin who was hired by repression agents, who are dirty and care about nothing. Behing softcore, political message has been delivered in a movie with a fast production, beautiful natural set and good soundtrack.

"A ilha dos prazeres proibidos" (The island of forbidden pleasures) is a film that could be labeled as "art pornochanchada" – it offers sex and nudity (but not in copious amounts like in some other pornochanchadas), there are many gorgeous women (non-stop eye candy), but it is also a reflection on utopia, sex, politics, dreams and reality. Still, the film has a simple enough story.

There's the continent ruled by a repressive government and there's an island (the island of forbidden pleasures) where political activists of the continent take refuge on running away from the continent's police. This island is their last stand – there they live in a way not possible in the continent – free love, no possessions, brotherhood…

In the continent, a killer is sent to the island to kill the revolutionary leaders. The killer is a woman , Ana (Neide Ribeiro). She will go there as a journalist (and she really works in a newspaper) sent there to interview the leaders of the movement. On arriving to the island, she will find out that things were much different from what she expected. Will Ana be involved by the "island of forbidden pleasures." Will she fulfill her mission?

The people in the island live in utopia - sex, dreams (All power to the imagination!): Paradise, paradise lost… Can they recognize the danger they live in?

The film was made by the end of the 70s when Brazil still lived under a military dictatorship and the dreams of an alternative life were slowly dying out in the whole world. The soundtrack of "The island of forbidden pleasures" is also representative of the time and place in which the film was made: Pink Floyd, cuecas bolivianas, classical music and shades of Godard, John Lennon etc..

"A ilha dos prazeres proibidos" (The island of forbidden pleasures) is a pleasant film to see. Don't try to analyze it too much, just let your senses guide you. Recommended especially for those who love or lived the 70s.