Como Nascem os Anjos

"Como Nascem os Anjos" ("How Angels are Born") is far from a perfect movie, but it can't be easily discarded. Despite some poor cast choices and some disposable parts of the screenplay, this film is a tragic, bittersweet portrait of the huge contrast between poor people and rich people in Brazil, more specifically in Rio de Janeiro.

The story is about two children and a man from the slum who enter by force in the house of an American man, not exactly because they want, but because of some matters of chance.

The film is slow, but never boring, with some funny moments, but the kind of acid humor you have seen in "Magnolia", for example. "Como Nascem os Anjos" has its flaws, but should be seen for its many qualities, including a surprising, sad, significant ending.

In resume: this is not a perfect movie, but it is a worth seeing for the treatment it gives to some important subjects. I just hope it doesn't keep tourists off our beloved country that is Brazil.

7.5 out of 10 = PRETTY FINE

It's a fantastic film about real life in Rio de Janeiro/Brasil. It's not a fiction film and you should see it to learn more about the hard life without money and security. I think you don't want to stop the film, it's so impressive.

Como nascem os anjos is a film produced in Brazil with new actors, no stars. It's a story about two children's life on the street without parents. Differents situations happen with them, for example violence, frights and good relationships. These relationships allow the life to go on.

I liked it so much and I wish you enjoy a lot with this film.

One of the earliest film from Retomada (the recovery of Brazilian cinema from 1995 on), despite having been awarded, Como Nascem os Anjos is much less famous nowadays than other movies from that decade, such as Carlota Joaquina, Four Days in September, Central Station, Lamarca, Guerra de Canudos, and Quem Matou Pixote?.

It is far from perfect, as it has at least two serious drawbacks: 1) dialogues are very unconvincing, clearly written by someone far from the reality of real people who lived in the same conditions of those characters; 2) although often being praised, young Priscila Assum does not have a consistent performance, overacting in a way that undermines the general outcome as her role is in the core of the movie.

On the other hand, also debuting Silvio Guindane has an extraordinary performance, in the very same level of City of God's casting, and deserving the awards he conquered. He even dances!

The script, almost in the style of a theatre play, is also nice, combining comedy of errors with social drama.

Important issues are addressed, such as: Brazilian dazzle with the United States and what is foreign, child marriage, the mortality of poor youth from slums, family abandonment, the presence of religion in poor communities, and so forth.

I started watching this movie on TV late at night and for a while I thought I was a recent Brazilian movie about the social differences. Then I realized the cars plates had old colors. Brazilian car record system changed the plates' colors about the mid-90's. Then I searched here on IMDb and found it had been recorded on 1996. Amazing and at the same time sad, a 10 year old movie about poverty, violence, poor children's lack of life choices is just up-to-date to the last news I just watched before the movie.

I think it's a difficult movie for foreigners (non-Brazilians) just it may be World War II movies for non-Europeans. I think City of God, a recent movie about the same matter, suffered this too while shown abroad. It's too difficult to translate the language, slags, the cursing that express the feeling, the mind confusion and the fear that take place both sides in the kind of conflict. Portuguese has curse words that change meaning depending on the context. The same word may mean something extremely good or extremely bad. You only can tell if you catch the whole picture.

Anyway, in my opinion this is a one-shot film. I'm glad I've seen once. Won't see twice.