Review by chcamp

Director/writer Sergio Bianchi adapted a short story from Machado de Assis - one of the finest Brazilian writer in the mid 1800's - to Brazil's mid 90's reality. Here, a group of artists struggle to develop a play. Meanwhile the director/producer tries unsucessfully to get money from the government, the troupe is supposed to do a research on human misery in Brazil. Soon, the egos, the individual interests, the lack of communication between them will look stronger than the sense of group. It could be an interesting movie - but nothing - and i do mean nothing - works! All the actors - even good Brazilian actors - overact. The scenes have no rhythm. The cinematopraphy looks made by someone operating a camcorder. Lights, music, direct sound - forget about it! And there's a disgusting scene of a rattan being tortured that is totally unnecessary. The idea was showing how easily people are becoming indifferent to human suffering, instead you can learn another lesson: how easy a crew with different talents can destroy good ideas.