Terra Queimada

The second time director Paulo Fajardo tackles the french invasions, right after his doc "A Primeira Linha de Wellington". This time with a fictional narrative at his core and a more cinematic ambition. However, it really doesn't go far-off from his previous effort, both in style and content.

The strongest points are the dialog, the actors and costumes. The soundtrack, while not memorable, does a very competent job in setting the mood. Technically is all over the place. There are sequences that shine, while others suffer from poor sound, lighting or other issues like the soap opera feel or the obvious smokey filter that sometimes feels out of place.

It's clear Terra Queimada is a joint effort from many parts that aren't experienced in cinema and, at the same time, dealing with budgetary constraints. But they still managed to give birth to a coherent and poignant movie who deals with a heavy subject with respect.