Mutum

Transpose the universe of Guimarães Rosa, one of the most important Brazilian writers, rich in unusual of phrases and words, the use of neologisms, with the vocabulary close to the language of "sertanejos" of Minas Gerais and philosophical questions about life and death, is a difficult task. But it is a universe so rich and full of themes that a small cut it is material for a good film. Sandra Kogut, director of the documentary "Passaporte Húngaro", chose to adapt the story of Miguilim, considered one of the best of Portuguese language, for today, and gave the name of Mutum, small town in a rural area of Minas. She met the majority of its players among the residents of the region.

The story of Miguilim is about the loss of innocence and the lack of understanding by the child of the problems of the adulthood. "Miguilim had no desire to grow, to be great person. The conversation between adults was always the same things dry, with the need to be gross, scary things . ", Writes Guimarães Rosa in this short story. Those fears also: "Miguilim did not like to put eyes in the dark.".

The film has the simplicity of the characters, without music and fireworks, or formulaic script, like life itself has greatness in small things. The melancholic eyes of Miguilim are our eyes, in joy and in sorrow. Mutum is not a perfect film. Some key scenes pass quickly, without time to absorb some events. Perhaps is the desire to contemplate such beauty. Pure Poetry, the movie was shown in Cannes Film Festival and received praises worldwide.

Strong movie that deals with serious and heavy stuff. A heavy atmosphere is almost omnipresent. Some may argue it as too slow-paced and boring. Slow-paced, that it definitely is. Boring? Well, it does require disposition for being slow-paced and almost silent.

This is a minimalist story, although sometimes the greatest stories are the "basic of the basics" (not in this case). That said, it's far from being pleasant because it deals with such things as poverty, physical and psychological aggression, betrayal, despair, pessimism, the sound of silence, suffer, loss and tragedy.

Thiago is the lead character. He's not very talkative but his sad eyes and face tell everything we'll ever need to know. His brother Felipe is the second lead character and another important character. Through him we can learn a lot too.

Thiago da Silva Mariz and Wallison Felipe Leal Barroso deserve very good praise for their acting.

I've just read that Mutum means mute and it's also the name of the region in Brazil where the family of this film does live on their fazenda. We see a tyrant father, children's life, everyday exhausting toil and family relationships through the eyes of Thiago, a ten-year-old boy who is dissimilar to the rest of the family. While watching this film I was remembering the summer visits in my childhood to my aunt's farmer house in the south of Ukraine – six brothers and two sisters, hardships and the endless drudge, even the landscape seemed similarly barren – in spite of the great difference in time and culture and the huge distance between two places the atmosphere looked very alike.