"O Homem do Pau Brasil" ("The Brazilwood Man") is a flight of fantasy and imagination with director/writer Joaquim Pedro de Andrade recreating the feverish sensation of
Modernism Art in Brazil during the early 1920's with actor Flávio Galvão and actress Ítala Nandi both playing writer and poet Oswald de Andrade, of whom the
film credits for his works being used and adapted here. It's a curious humored film that serves its purpose of enlightning audiences about how the art
movement grew into the 1920's society and its importance in later years since Oswald was a main figure of the period along with Mario de Andrade, Tarsila do
Amaral, Patrícia Galvão (Pagú) and others. As a bizarre history lesson the movie works; as a comedy of costumes and situation the film is a little bit lost
in confusion, countless speeches and lack of a proper ending.
Here, Oswald is played as a dual character (Galvão who doesn't look him in anything and Nandi who looks a lot like the real artist) presenting his works and poems and being a key figure on the Modern Art in 1922, dealing with other artists, enjoying their plays or finding some romance with many different women (one is a painter; another is a dancer and actress, even though the man himself is married with the character played by Regina Duarte). He and others talk about the class struggle, the working relations, the role of modern art in Brazilian culture - seen with resistance by a majority of prudes, politics and philosophy in between long speeches, manifests and other associated things with the many
people they encounter in Brazil or in Paris. All of that is mixed into humored scenarios, some moments work, others are too confusing. The bickering he has
with the Catholic priests led by a greedy preacher (Nelson Dantas) is hilarious; or when Oswald tries to conquer the painter character played by Dina Sfat is
just as funny; but the majority of time the movie provides a nauseating headache due to its excess of comedy bits when in fact a dramatic comedy would suit the film's thematic best.
I have mixed feelings about "O Homem do Pau Brasil" but I liked it, just not as much as I wanted to.
Joaquim Pedro de Andrade's final film is a historic piece that combines
reality and fantasy all in one box, serves its purpose but it can alienate viewers who'll think this is truly a real life story. But when you start to see the
absurd scenarios and the craziness from the characters here and there (the naked attack on the boat is one of them) you'll get the notion that this is pure
imagination from its creator though the words and reflections on the Week of Modern Art are truly from Oswald de Andrade. Watch with reservations and
without taking it too much seriously. 6/10.
