Jumelles

The sewer Iara and the biologist Marilene (Fernanda Torres) are twin sisters with very different personalities, who like to play games with their boy-friends due to their resemblance, for the dissatisfaction of their father (Francisco Cuoco). After the death of their mother (Fernanda Montenegro), Mariline meets Osmar (Evandro Mesquita) and falls in love with him. Her sister Iara becomes quite obsessed in Osmar, and the jealous Marilene poisons her. The story has a dark and tragic end. I have mentioned in another review that Nelson Rodrigues is one of my favorites Brazilian writer. 'Gêmeas' is another adaptation to the screen of his work. Fernanda Torres, one of my favorite Brazilian actresses and daughter of the best Brazilian actress, Fernanda Montenegro, has another magnificent performance in her double role of twins. 'Gêmeas' is a highly recommended movie, having also a wonderful photography and a timeless story, like most of the tales of Nelson Rodrigues. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): 'Gêmeas' ('Twins')

Terrific plot with brilliant performance of the actress (Fernanda Torres) that interpreted in a convicted way two very different sisters. The story is about twin sisters that fell in love for the same man, that for his turn was very comfortable with two lovers...

One of the best, but possibly the very best one, adaptation of Nelson Rodrigues to the cinema. The story is great, Andrucha Waddington has a perfect direction, producing a visually beautiful film, with good cinematography, art direction, edition, and off course an excellent performance of all actors. However, what is impossible not to hightlight is particularly the absolutely brilliant performance of Fernanda Torres as the twin sisters. Not only she was able to show, as always, how versatile she is as an actress, but here she could portray two physically indentical sisters (whith the very same hairstyle, makeup, and so on), but with expressions and minor behaviors which were enough for the spectator nearly always identify which character was there, Marilena or Iara! Whenever it is not possible to distinguish, it is probably on purpose. I always knew Fernanda Torres is one of the best actresses, but this film is perhaps the very one where she makes no doubt about it to be possible.

OK. One Fernanda catches attention. Two almost guarantees a Brazilian hit (and a good film, as proven in their previous collaboration TREASON (1998). But three (with Fernanda Torres playing twins) may be too much. Besides, some people may be getting sick of this Fernanda-mania. Well, even someone who went in to see it with a cynical inclination as I did, admits that this daughter/mother team have a great thing going. This is their best collaboration yet. Actually, only their second one. Montenegro had a very small part in the Torres starring FOUR DAYS IN SEPTEMBER, but not as her mother, and again a bit part at best. And in reality, the collaboration is only icing on the cake. They are individually captivating, no added family chemistry needed. Well, better late than never. The two always did lead totally different careers, until things changed a couple of years ago with CENTRAL STATION. It's great for us that the mother/daughter team finally did a couple of good movies together (TWINS and TREASON) before it was too late. They prove once again here that they are both formidable talents, excelling at drama, be it nuanced or melodramatic, AND comedy, high or low brow, It is simply a treat to see them together. Watch for it.